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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Osun party leaders ask police to tackle electoral violence

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Opposition party leaders in Osun State, Nigeria, urged the police to take stronger action against rising electoral violence.
  • They identified the ruling Accord and main opposition APC as the parties behind the crises, though their representatives were absent from a police-convened meeting.
  • The police commissioner stressed the need for early notification of rallies and discouraged political thuggery.

Opposition party leaders in Nigeria's Osun State have called on the state police command to intensify efforts against escalating electoral violence. The demand came during a meeting convened by the state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, which included leaders from various political parties, religious figures, and community representatives.

Police should be allow to their responsibility. Everyone knows that the two parties behind the crises we having in Osun. The Accord and APC and their representatives that are causing the mayhem are not here at this meeting.

— Adesoji AdelekeThe state chairman of the Booth Party, Adesoji Adeleke, addressing the meeting and identifying the parties he believes are responsible for the unrest.

Party chairmen from the Booth Party and the New Nigeria People’s Party specifically pointed fingers at the ruling Accord party and the All Progressives Congress (APC), alleging their involvement in sponsoring the unrest. They noted the absence of representatives from these two major parties at the crucial security meeting. "Everyone knows that the two parties behind the crises we having in Osun," stated Adesoji Adeleke, chairman of the Booth Party. "The police should be alive to their responsibility and protect this state. We all know the sponsors of these crises. Security agents should go after them to stop these killings."

The police should be alive to their responsibility and protect this state. We all know the sponsors of these crises. Security agents should go after them to stop these killings.

— Adesoji AdelekeAdesoji Adeleke urging security agents to act against those sponsoring violence in Osun State.

Commissioner Gotan, in his address, urged all political parties to provide adequate advance notice for rallies and political gatherings. He emphasized that timely information allows security agencies to deploy personnel effectively, manage traffic, prevent clashes, and ensure public safety. Gotan also strongly condemned political thuggery and the recruitment of thugs, stating that violence and intimidation have no place in a democratic society.

Early notification will enable security agencies to deploy personnel effectively, provide adequate security coverage, manage traffic, prevent clashes, and ensure the safety of participants as well as members of the public. Security agencies can only plan effectively when they are informed in good time.

— Ibrahim GotanThe state Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Gotan, explaining the importance of advance notice for political gatherings.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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