The Integrity Youth Alliance, an organisation monitoring the development trends in the Nigeria Police Force for over 15 years, has responded to the baseless allegations by the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, claiming that “the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Kayode Egbetokun, is planning to assassinate the governor of the state, Ademola Adeleke.”.
In a press release on Wednesday, 19th February 2025 signed by the National Coordinator of the Alliance, Kelvin Adegbenga said that the Nigeria Police is an organization committed to maintaining law and order in all states of the Federation, including Osun State, without bias or prejudice.
“The deployment of police personnel to Osun State, as with any other state, is solely to ensure the safety and security of citizens and prevent the breakdown of law and order. Any insinuation that these deployments are politically motivated or intended to interfere with local government affairs is a gross misrepresentation of facts.
Adegbenga further said, “This foul play and poor drama by the Osun State PDP Chapter is indeed laughable. Initially, the State PDP Chapter went to court and received a judgement for the APC Chairmen of the state to be sacked. The APC chairmen vacated the office without squabbles and sought an appeal at a higher court, following the rule of law.
“However, when the higher court approved their appeal and annulled the ruling of the lower court, the APC chairmen went back to resume duty, and the PDP faction, unfortunately, could not show conformity to law and maturity as the APC had done and instead resorted to violence, one that claimed the lives of APC members, not even PDP members. Who is then lawless…Is it the APC who followed the rule of law, or the other party that resorted to violence?
“Recall that IGP Egbetokun vowed in his previous statement to go after those responsible for the unnecessary violence that resulted in the loss of lives. It is shameful to see that the PDP would resort to these baseless claims and dangerous accusations to try and divert attention from their atrocities and shameful acts. Saying that the IGP would connive with some people to assassinate a sitting governor, is that even reasonable at all?
“Political actors in Osun State and elsewhere are urged to refrain from dragging the name of the IGP and the Police Force into their political squabbles. Such baseless allegations are not only defamatory but also have the potential to incite violence and unrest.
“The police force should remain committed to its constitutional mandate of protecting lives and property and maintaining peace and order and should not be distracted by baseless accusations. Adegbenga said.
“Therefore, we strongly supported the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun’s decisive action by ordering the deployment of additional tactical squads to Osun State to bolster security and restore law and order.
Adegbenga further said that IGP Egbetokun did not deploy police special forces to escort miscreants into local government council secretariats in a bid to cause unrest but rather acted on last Monday’s Court of Appeal judgement in Akure.
“As the last judge of all election disputes, the judiciary must be respected and followed by political players to safeguard democratic norms and the rule of law, the statement concluded.
