Osun Guber: Accord demands immediate removal of Police Commissioner

Accord has demanded the immediate removal of the Osun State Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan, citing persistent violence and  killing of its members in the state with no one held accountable .

Accord said that its members are being killed and maimed ahead of the August 15, 2026, governorship election in the state.

Accord, the ruling party in Osun, said it has lost confidence in the ability and capacity of the Commissioner of Police to curb violence and politically motivated killings by political thugs who operate in broad daylight shooting sporadically across the state capital, Osogbo and Ede intimidating, harassing, killing and injuring residents particularly its members and supporters.

The party said it has reported the attacks to the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, but “sadly no arrest has been made let alone prosecuting these criminal elements terrorising the good people of Osun State which give them the audacity and impunity to continue their dastardly acts”.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Joseph Omorogbe, Accord said it has lost a number of “leaders, members and supporters in the state, and several others wounded in the APC orchestrated violence including attacks at the party’s state secretariat, Imole Campaign Council’s office and destruction of campaign billboards in the worst political violence in Osun State”.

“Our hearts still bleed over the gruesome killing of a 14-year-old boy identified as Ezekiel Olapade who was shot dead on Sunday, 21st June 2026, at Ilobu Community of Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State when political thugs associated with APC shot sporadically around the council’s secretariat when they sighted an Accord member wearing a party cap, in the process killed the boy while attempting to rescue his mother who fell into a ditch as they tried to escape the bullets,” the statement said.

Accord called on President Bola Tinubu, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General Department of State Services and the National Security Adviser to intervene and restore public safety and order in the state.

“Accordingly, the Inspector General of Police should as a matter of urgency transfer the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan for his inability to dispassionately discharge his duties of safeguarding lives and property in the state, and apprehending the known APC thugs perpetrating violence to face the full weight of the law,” it added.

“Politics is not a do-or-die affair. The political ambition of any electoral contestant does not worth the blood of fellow compatriots.

“Accord urges politicians to eschew politics of bitterness and brigandage that impedes the nation’s democracy and embrace issues-based campaigns, and allow the people to choose their governor peacefully. At the end, the ballot is stronger than the bullet.

“Any threat to democratic participation in the August 15 gubernatorial election in the state, is an attack on the nation’s democracy. It must be resisted by all lovers of representative governance.

“Accord will not be cowed by anti-democratic forces that want to destabilise its pro-people governance in Osun State. The party salutes the courage and political sagacity of its governor, His Excellency, Senator Ademola Adeleke for effectively piloting the affairs of the state in spite of provocations by reactionary forces to distract him.

“The good people of Osun State are in one accord to support Governor Adeleke’s transformative leadership. A vote for Accord is a vote for prosperity and good governance.”

Osun Guber: Accord demands immediate removal of Police Commissioner