“Osun vs. Police: Governor Rejects Election Suspension, Calls Force Partisan!”
The Osun State Government has boldly rejected the Nigeria Police’s advice to suspend the local government elections scheduled for Saturday, citing a commitment to uphold the rule of law. In a statement signed by Kolapo Alimi, the state’s Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, the government expressed concerns over the police’s apparent bias and interference in democratic processes.
While acknowledging the police’s security warnings, the state government declared that it had thoroughly reviewed the advice and found it to be politically motivated. It criticized the police for showing partiality, especially in its open support for the All Progressives Congress (APC), which the government accused of attempting to carry out an illegal reinstatement order.
The government emphasized that the police’s actions throughout the ongoing conflict, including supporting the APC and disregarding court rulings, have led to an erosion of the force’s credibility. “The police have abandoned their impartial role, becoming a tool for partisan politics,” the statement read. The government further pointed out that a recent court judgment affirmed the vacancies in Osun’s councils and gave the green light for the elections to proceed.
Despite the police’s warning about potential violence and unrest on the day of the election, the Osun State Government expressed its unwavering commitment to holding a credible, peaceful, and lawful election. The statement concluded by encouraging voters to cast their ballots peacefully while rejecting the police’s call for postponement.
Police Warn of Election Violence, Urge Suspension
On the same day, the Nigeria Police issued a statement citing intelligence that suggested significant security threats should the elections proceed. According to the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, credible reports indicated that various groups— including political factions—were planning to disrupt the electoral process and instigate violence. The police urged the Osun State Government to reconsider proceeding with the election in light of these threats.
Meanwhile, an Osun State High Court sitting in Ilesa had ruled earlier on Friday, authorizing the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) to go ahead with the elections as scheduled, counteracting the police’s call for suspension.
Accusations of Police Bias and Potential Violence from Democracy Advocates
Tensions escalated further as the Osun Democratic Coalition, a pro-democracy group, accused the Nigeria Police of attempting to incite violence and chaos in Osun. The group warned that hundreds of Police Mobile Force (MOPO) personnel had been deployed to destabilize the state, allegedly targeting members of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). They claimed the police’s actions were part of a broader scheme to manufacture a crisis that could justify declaring a state of emergency.
The coalition denounced the police’s interference in the electoral process and called for accountability, urging the public to hold law enforcement responsible for any bloodshed or violence during the election. “If there is bloodshed this Saturday, we hold the police accountable,” the statement declared.
A Showdown Between Law and Order
The political storm brewing in Osun reflects a clash between the police’s warnings of instability and the state government’s resolve to proceed with the election. As the local government polls approach, both sides stand firm— with the Osun government pushing forward with the election as a demonstration of democratic integrity, while critics accuse the police of attempting to derail the process for political gain.
