The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has explained the decision to redeploy the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, ahead of the state’s election.
Mr Disu said the commissioner was redeployed following complaints from some political parties and consultations with political stakeholders who expressed concerns about their confidence in the state police chief.
He said the Nigeria Police Force had introduced the position of an electoral commissioner of police to oversee security operations during elections, adding that the officer would assume responsibility for the Osun poll ahead of the election.
“For the first time, we introduced the electoral commissioner of police who will be taking charge of the elections earlier, when we noticed that certain groups of politicians and parties were complaining that they no longer trust the commissioner of police,” Mr Disu said.
He added, “So, the commissioner of police was asked to stand aside while the electoral commissioner of police moved in earlier.”
According to the IGP, other senior police officers with specific responsibilities for the election would also be deployed to the state.
“The AIG in charge of election will be moving in any moment from now. The Deputy Commissioner of Police, who will be taking charge of the Osun election, will also be moving in,” he said.
Mr Disu said the officers deployed for the election had been given specific instructions to ensure adequate security before, during and after the poll.
“They have specific instructions. We the police are in charge of internal security. We are the lead organisation in charge of this election,” he stated.
The IGP, however, assured that the police would work with other security agencies deployed to support the election.
“Yes, we are going to cooperate with other sister agencies who are going to support us during this election,” he said.
