The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has called for the immediate redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, citing growing insecurity and a loss of public confidence ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15.
In a statement released on Sunday by its South West Zonal Organising Secretary, Comrade Wale Balogun, the party condemned the recent surge in politically related violence and killings across the state, urging politicians to ensure that the election is decided through votes rather than violence.
According to the SDP, the rising insecurity has created fear and uncertainty in many communities, stressing that no political ambition should be pursued at the cost of innocent lives.
The party referenced former President Goodluck Jonathan’s famous statement that no political office is worth the life of any citizen, describing it as a lasting reminder that the protection of lives must always take priority over political interests.
It argued that the government’s constitutional duty to safeguard lives and property has been undermined by the violence witnessed during the election period.
The SDP appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Police Service Commission to consider demands from civil society groups for the redeployment of the state police commissioner.
The party maintained that the current security situation has weakened public trust in the police command’s ability to conduct a peaceful, transparent and credible governorship election.
It urged the appointment of a new commissioner whose professionalism, neutrality and integrity would strengthen confidence in the electoral process.
The SDP further stated that although the Inspector-General had previously taken steps to address security concerns in Osun, stronger preventive measures should have been implemented to curb the current wave of violence.
The party also called on parents, traditional rulers, religious leaders and community stakeholders to discourage young people from participating in political violence.
It warned that no responsible politician should encourage supporters to attack or kill fellow citizens in the pursuit of power, insisting that no elective office is worth the loss of human life.
The SDP accused some opposition parties of contributing to the growing insecurity and criticised the continued exchange of accusations among political actors instead of finding lasting solutions.
It specifically argued that neither the Accord Party nor the All Progressives Congress (APC) could claim to be protecting the interests of the people while political violence persists.
The party urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election observers, civil society organisations, the media and the international community to closely monitor the electoral process and ensure security agencies perform their duties fairly and professionally.
It also encouraged voters to reject intimidation, vote-buying and any candidate associated with political violence, insisting that the will of the people should be expressed through the ballot box rather than acts of violence.
