The Nigeria Police Force has deployed a new Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, to Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, replacing CP Ibrahim Gotan.
Confirming the development on Friday, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, said Erale had been posted to oversee security arrangements for the election.
Although the police did not officially state the reason for Gotan’s redeployment, the move comes after months of criticism from the Osun State Government, political stakeholders and civil society organisations over allegations of bias in the handling of politically sensitive cases.
Gotan’s reassignment also comes barely 24 hours after the release of the Secretary to the State Government, Teslim Igbalaye, who was arrested alongside five others during a raid on his residence over allegations of vote-buying and harbouring a wanted suspect.
The operation triggered strong reactions from the state government and the ruling Accord Party, both of which accused security agencies of intimidating government officials ahead of the governorship election.
The deployment of CP Samuel Erale is expected to bolster security preparations as political activities intensify in the lead-up to the August 15 poll.
