The Nigeria Police Force has deployed a new Commissioner of Police, Samuel Erale, to Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election.

Erale replaced Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan as security preparations for the poll intensified.

The deployment was confirmed on Friday by the Police Public Relations Officer in Osun State, DSP Abiodun Ojelabi, who said the new commissioner had been assigned specifically for the governorship election.

According to Ojelabi, Erale had yet to assume office at the time of the announcement.

“What we have is that an election CP is being deployed to Osun State, although he is yet to report or assume office,” he said.

The change in leadership comes as political parties intensify campaigns ahead of the governorship election, with security expected to play a central role in ensuring peaceful conduct of the exercise.

Gotan’s redeployment followed months of criticism from the Osun State government, opposition groups and civil society organisations over the handling of election-related security matters and allegations of partisanship, claims the police have consistently denied.

The development also came less than 24 hours after the police granted administrative bail to the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Teslim Igbalaye, who was arrested alongside five other persons during a raid on his residence over allegations of vote-buying and harbouring a wanted suspect.

Meanwhile, the Osun State chapter of the Accord Party has criticised the absence of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, popularly known as AMBO, at the state’s Peace Accord, describing it as a disregard for violence-free elections.

Chairman of the party in the state, Victor Akande, in a statement on Friday, said Oyebamiji’s absence reflected the opposition’s disposition towards peaceful and issue-based electioneering.

He described the peace accord as a solemn commitment before God, the people and the international community that political actors would conduct themselves responsibly before, during and after the election.

According to him, no political engagement could have been more significant than a gathering convened to secure the commitment of all contestants to peaceful polls.

Akande said despite the presence of a former head of state, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other eminent Nigerians who appealed for peace, Oyebamiji stayed away from the event.

“Every serious democrat understands that the Peace Accord is not a mere ceremonial event. Deliberately staying away from such an important engagement is both unstatesmanlike and deeply disturbing,” he said.

Akande commended Governor Ademola Adeleke for attending the ceremony despite his official engagements, adding that he was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, members of the State Executive Council, the leadership of the Accord Party and other dignitaries.

Akande said the APC deputy governorship candidate arrived after the peace accord had been signed and the programme concluded.

According to him, the action diminished the significance of the occasion and portrayed indifference to an exercise designed to reassure residents that political actors were committed to peaceful coexistence.

He added that the APC’s conduct had reinforced concerns about the opposition’s attitude towards peaceful electioneering.

Akande, however, urged residents to take note of the conduct of political parties and vote wisely in the August 15 governorship election to ensure the state’s continued socio-economic growth.