Adeleke's team requests the Inspector General's guarantee of a violence-free voting process in Osun state election

The Imole Campaign Council, representing Governor Ademola Adeleke, is urging Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu to guarantee a peaceful and impartial governorship election in Osun State on August 15, with a call for reassurance that the poll will be free from violence.

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In a statement issued on Monday, the council's spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, emphasized the need for the police leadership to maintain neutrality in the deployment of security personnel before, during, and after the election.

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The council is seeking a public assurance from the Inspector-General that officers assigned to election duties will conduct themselves professionally and fairly, with a specific request for the IGP to address the people of Osun State directly.

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A statement from the council noted that the Inspector-General of Police must commit to ensuring a violence-free election on August 15, 2026, and back this commitment with action, guaranteeing the neutrality and impartiality of his personnel throughout the electoral process.

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The campaign council has also expressed concerns regarding the reinstatement of Commissioner of Police Ibrahim Gotan as the Osun State Commissioner of Police, citing actions taken under his leadership that have raised questions about the police command's neutrality.

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The council is urging the Inspector-General to prevent security agencies from being used as instruments of intimidation against any political group during the election, and to put an end to the use of arrests and detention as a means of harassing opponents.

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The council stressed that credible elections require security agencies to remain impartial, and that such neutrality is essential for the integrity of the electoral process.

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Repeated attempts to contact Force spokesman Anietie Iniedu were unsuccessful, as his calls rang out without being answered, and he has yet to respond to a message regarding the matter.

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This call for reassurance comes less than two weeks before the Osun State governorship election, scheduled for August 15, 2026, for which the Independent National Electoral Commission has completed its preparations.

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Security agencies, including the Nigeria Police Force, are expected to play a crucial role in maintaining law and order during the election, highlighting the importance of their neutrality and professionalism.

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The appeal follows recent debates over police deployments in the state, sparked by reports of changes in the leadership of the Osun State Police Command, and amid ongoing calls from political parties for security agencies to maintain their impartiality.

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The Nigeria Police Force has consistently asserted that its personnel are guided by a commitment to professionalism and remain non-partisan during elections, a claim that has been subject to scrutiny and debate in the context of the upcoming Osun State governorship election.