The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has explained why the Commissioner of Police in Osun State, Ibrahim Gotan, was asked to step aside ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Disu said the decision followed complaints by political parties and stakeholders who expressed a lack of confidence in the neutrality of the state police command.

Speaking during a press briefing, the IGP said the Force introduced an Electoral Commissioner of Police earlier than usual to take charge of election security.

“For the first time, we introduced the electoral commissioner of police who will be taking charge of the elections earlier, when we noticed that certain groups of politicians and parties were complaining that they no longer trust the commissioner of police. So, the commissioner of police was asked to stand aside while the electoral commissioner of police moved in earlier,” Disu said.

He added that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of elections and a Deputy Commissioner of Police assigned to the Osun election would also be deployed to the state.

Disu stressed that the move was not a disciplinary action against Gotan but a confidence-building measure to strengthen public trust in the police’s neutrality during the election.

Gotan had earlier been redeployed to Force Headquarters in Abuja on special duty.