Osun Election Controversy: Reps Accuse Tinubu of Intimidation as IGP Explains CP Appointment

Political tensions are running high in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, marked by significant controversy surrounding the neutrality of federal agencies and security forces. These concerns have led to the unprecedented replacement of the Commissioner of Police and interventions from the highest levels of government regarding financial probes.

Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu announced on Friday the appointment of Samuel Erale as the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of election security for the forthcoming Osun governorship election. This decision follows demands from political parties and civil society organizations who raised concerns about the neutrality of the substantive CP, Ibrahim Gotan. Mr. Disu clarified that Mr. Gotan was asked to step aside as a confidence-building measure, not as a disciplinary action, to reassure stakeholders of the force’s impartiality during and after the election. The IGP’s announcement was made during a meeting with civil society organizations, including YIAGA Africa, in Abuja. This move comes amidst rising political tension and violence in the state, with police intelligence reportedly linking some unrest to rival cult groups allegedly associated with political actors.

The controversy intensified after the arrest of the Secretary to the Osun State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, and others during a police operation at his residence over alleged electoral offenses. While the police defended the operation as a lawful investigation and claimed to have recovered N4.8 million cash, voter cards, and registers, the state government and Governor Ademola Adeleke’s supporters criticized it as politically motivated. Mr. Igbalaye was subsequently released, but the incident fueled allegations of partisanship against the police command.

Adding to the volatile political climate, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) blocked an Osun State Government account domiciled at First Bank. This action sparked public outrage, prompting President Bola Tinubu to intervene. The President, whose party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is fielding a candidate against Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, ordered the EFCC to lift the freeze order on the state’s account, emphasizing that democratic governance requires elected governments to function without unnecessary disruption during investigations.

However, President Tinubu’s intervention was met with strong criticism from the House of Representatives Minority Caucus, who accused him of attempting to use federal institutions to intimidate the Osun State Government. The caucus described his directive to the EFCC as a “panicky, belated afterthought,” arguing it was prompted by public criticism rather than a commitment to the rule of law. Minority Leader Fredrick Agbedi and caucus spokesperson Afam Ogene highlighted glaring contradictions, noting that an EFCC spokesperson reportedly stated the accounts were frozen “without a valid court order,” while the President directed the commission to vacate a court order, questioning the legal basis of the EFCC’s initial action.

The opposition lawmakers further alleged a broader, sustained campaign of intimidation by the federal government against the Osun State Government. This alleged campaign includes withholding statutory allocations for local government councils for months, which they termed “economic strangulation,” and accusations of persistent violence involving APC members and political thugs, with the Nigeria Police Force allegedly failing to respond appropriately. They condemned the “Gestapo-style arrest and detention” of SSG Igbalaiye and other officials as an attack on the state government and criticized comments from the Inspector-General of Police implying the Osun Government harbored hoodlums, labeling such remarks as “partisan propaganda in uniform.”

The Minority Caucus warned that these actions and public statements by presidential appointees are damaging the administration’s credibility and deepening public distrust. They asserted that federal institutions are being “weaponised” against opposition-controlled states, viewing it as a “dress rehearsal” for future elections. While acknowledging President Tinubu’s origin from Osun State, the caucus insisted that the state “cannot be a personal fiefdom” and demanded that residents be allowed to freely choose their governor without interference, intimidation, or coercion. They urged civil society organizations, election observers, and the international community to closely monitor the developments, holding the APC and the federal government responsible for any breakdown of law and order.

The replacement of CP Gotan is not an isolated incident in Osun State’s political history. Ahead of the 2022 governorship election, the then Police Commissioner, Olawale Olokode, faced similar intense political pressure and was subsequently redeployed by the then Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali, to be replaced by Julius Okoro to supervise that election, establishing a familiar pattern of security force leadership changes in contentious electoral periods.