Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has ordered the deployment of Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale Etaifo to Osun State as CP Elections, in a strategic move to strengthen security operations ahead of the state's governorship election scheduled for August 15, 2026. The deployment, announced in a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, on Friday, July 31, 2026, is part of the Force's comprehensive election security strategy aimed at ensuring a peaceful, secure, and credible electoral process.
According to the statement, CP Etaifo will oversee and coordinate election security operations across the state, working in collaboration with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to safeguard voters, election officials, and electoral materials. His deployment comes amid heightened political tensions in the state, following allegations of bias and misconduct that had been directed at the current Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Gotan, by political stakeholders and civil society groups.
The police statement clarified that CP Ibrahim Gotan, the Commissioner of Police for the Osun State Command, will remain in charge of the state command and will continue to supervise routine policing activities while providing necessary administrative and operational support for the CP Elections. The dual leadership structure is designed to ensure that the command's regular policing functions are not disrupted while the election security operations are managed by a dedicated officer.
The police statement also stressed that personnel deployed for election duties are expected to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, neutrality, and strict compliance with the law, including the Code of Conduct for Security Personnel on Electoral Duty. The Inspector-General of Police urged members of the public, political actors, and all stakeholders to remain peaceful, law-abiding, and to cooperate fully with security agencies in ensuring a safe, credible, and successful electoral process.
The deployment of CP Etaifo comes barely 24 hours after CP Ibrahim Gotan was reportedly ordered to be redeployed from Osun State, following weeks of mounting political pressure. The decision to bring in a dedicated election commissioner appears aimed at addressing concerns over the neutrality of the police in the conduct of the election. The police command has faced allegations of bias in the handling of security matters in the state, with the ruling Accord Party and opposition parties trading accusations of political persecution.
The Osun State Governorship election is considered one of the most consequential off-cycle polls in Nigeria, with political observers closely watching the conduct of the election as a precursor to the 2027 general elections. The deployment of CP Etaifo and the clarification of the police command structure are expected to boost confidence in the electoral process and reassure stakeholders that the police are committed to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election. As the election date approaches, the police have made it clear that they are prepared to uphold the law and protect the rights of all citizens to participate in the democratic process.
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