By Our Correspondent

Unhappy with the conduct Osun State Commissioner of Police,Members of the National Assembly and House of Assembly of the Accord Party in Osun State have called for the immediate redeployment of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Gothan, citing partisanship and bias ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

The lawmakers, under the Accord National and State Assembly Caucus, comprising seven National Assembly members and 25 state legislators, made the demand during a press conference held in Osogbo on Friday.

Addressing newsmen on behalf of the lawmakers in Osogbo on Friday, the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olumide Egbedun, alleged that the continued posting of the CP in the state could compromise the credibility and integrity of the governorship poll.

According to him, “On the account of the foregoing, we hereby call on the Inspector General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu to immediately redeploy the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Ibrahim Gothan who has shown himself partisan, highly compromised and incapable of providing effective security support for the people of Osun State.

“We call for the immediate arrest and prosecution of persons linked with the various crimes perpetrated against members and supporters of the Accord in various parts of Osun state especially in the last 3 months.

“Only a few weeks ago, Mr Kolade Eluyera, an Accord member in Irewole Local Government Area, was brutally murdered.

Similarly, on June 3, 2026, the Chairman of Accord in Osogbo Local Government, Hon Asimiyu Ajibola, was shot multiple times by armed assailants and remains hospitalized while battling for his life.

“The only crime of those who were most recently shot by the APC thugs in Ile-Ife, Owode-Ede and Osogbo was that they wore branded caps of the Accord.

“Unfortunately, these incidents form part of a growing pattern of violence that has generated fear and anxiety among citizens across the state.
“Regrettably, the Police in Osun state appears a willing accomplice in the execution of the unlawful plans which have begun to unfold.

“We find it difficult to understand how crimes committed in broad daylight, in branded vehicles, caught on tapes would not be tracked and perpetrators arrested 72 hours after those shootings.

“The apparent inability to identify, apprehend, and prosecute perpetrators has emboldened criminal elements and increased public concerns regarding the safety of lives and property in Osun State.

“We wish to put it on record that since his assumption of office on the 11th of May, 2025, the state Commissioner of Police has not deemed it fit to attend the state Security Council meeting more than twice! On all other occasions, he either sent some retired personnel or persons junior to other service commanders to represent him.

“The orchestrated attempt of the CP to incapacitate the Amotekun Corps is another clear danger to the security of our people in Osun State, especially now that cases of kidnapping and banditry are on the rise in different parts of the country.

“While hundreds of Accord party campaign billboards were vandalised by known miscreants without a single arrest, the Commissioner of Police was busy trying to stop the holding of campaign by our party men in parts of the State.

“The Police Commissioner, from all indications, has become an accomplice to the plans to turn our state upside down and hand our democratic institutions to hijackers and state captors. This is clearly unexpected, unacceptable, and very unfortunate.”

By David Owei

Osun APC is spreading falsehood and fake news about the hugely successful Accord canvassers’ rally because it failed in its anti-democratic plot to stop the event from holding.

Giving the above clarification was the spokesperson to Governor Ademola Adeleke, Mallam Olawale Rasheed who decried the concerted efforts of the state APC to deploy the state police command as a tool to block a legally convened campaign and mobilisation event.

Narrating how Governor Ademola Adeleke foiled APC bid to stop the rally, the spokesperson said the Osun APC launched a coordinated plot to use the police to stop the event from holding by clandestinely claiming to be organising another event on the same day as an alibi for the police to cancel all political events in the town.

In what appeared like a joint operation, the state police command without consulting the state government purportedly issued a statement cancelling a campaign event in which the state governor was the chief host.

The purported police directive was widely seen as a hatchet job in favour of Osun APC and a politically motivated decision designed to deny the Accord and its candidate their legitimate rights guaranteed under the constitution and the Electoral Act.

“Mr Governor then decided to engage the police authorities,calling attention to the inherent illegality and the partisan implications of the police position on the subject. The police authorities later bow to fair policing requirements and withdraw their reported opposition to the hosting of the rally.

“We submit that the rally was held under all legal conditions. Mr Governor did not disobey any police directive because there was no legal directive to obey. The police after engagement only realised its errors and withdrew what was apparently a partisan stance.

“On the minor incident of stage collapse, the truth is that there were a few hiccups at the beginning. It was fixed and the programme proceeded with a huge crowd of voters and canvassers. All key leaders spoke and Mr Governor rounded it up with the official inauguration of the canvassers. The videos are all over social media.

“Our hale and hearty governor addressed the crowd and sang and danced with thousands of canvassers. Details of speeches were issued in a statement. The Osun APC cannot deny what the public can see, watch and read on their mobile telephones.

“On the spiritual dimension of today’s event, that such a mammoth crowd can grace such an event in the home constituency of its campaign director general and its sitting Senator confirm the political death of APC in Ijeshaland and Osun state as a whole.

“Again, that the event was successfully held after the desperate bid of Osun APC to stop it and that the programme also proceeded after initial hiccups, signal supreme victory over Bola Oyebamiji and continuity of Adeleke governorship ”, the Spokesperson narrated.

While debunking all the fake news emanating from the Osun APC, the governor’s spokesperson concluded that the mammoth crowd at the canvassers’ rally is a signpost of what will happen across Osun state, affirming that “by God and people, Governor Adeleke will be re-elected come August 15”.

By David Owei,Bayelsa

There is currently heavy tension and disruption of vehicular movement at Igbogene Junction, the major gateway into Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, as protesters have mounted a blockade, leaving commuters, travelers and residents stranded.

The protest, which is part of a broader nationwide demonstration marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day, is centred on growing public frustration over economic hardship, insecurity, unemployment, rising cost of living, inflation and worsening social conditions across the country. Civil society groups and activists had earlier declared June 12 a day of mass action to draw government attention to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.

Eyewitnesses at Igbogene Junction reported that protesters occupied strategic sections of the road, causing a complete standstill of traffic. Motorists travelling into and out of Yenagoa were forced to seek alternative routes, while many passengers were seen waiting helplessly as commercial transport operations ground to a halt.

The demonstrators are demanding urgent government intervention in addressing the soaring prices of food items, transportation costs, electricity tariffs and the persistent security challenges confronting many communities across the country. Protesters argue that despite Nigeria’s democratic journey, many citizens continue to struggle under severe economic pressure.

Security personnel have reportedly been deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any breakdown of law and order. As of the time of filing this report, the protest remained largely peaceful, although movement through the axis was completely restricted.

The situation in Yenagoa mirrors developments in several cities across Nigeria where citizens have taken to the streets to express dissatisfaction with the current socio-economic realities. Organisers of the nationwide action insist that the protest is aimed at compelling authorities to address issues of insecurity, hunger, unemployment and the declining standard of living.

Residents have appealed to both protesters and security agencies to exercise restraint and ensure that the demonstration remains peaceful. They also called on relevant authorities to engage stakeholders and address the concerns raised by the protesters to prevent further escalation.

At the time of this report, Igbogene Junction remained blocked, with no thoroughfare for motorists and commuters. Travelers are advised to avoid the area and seek alternative routes pending the resolution of the protest.

Authorities are urged to swiftly intervene and engage the protesters, as prolonged disruption at Igbogene Junction could significantly affect economic and social activities in Yenagoa and adjoining communities.