The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has accused Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, of planning to remove Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The Osun PDP also claims that Egbetokun orchestrated unrest in the state in an attempt to create chaos and instability.
During a press conference in Osogbo, the chairman of the Osun State PDP, Sunday Bisi, made these accusations. He alleged that Egbetokun used Police Special Forces to escort troublemakers into local government council secretariats to incite violence.
The allegation is coming amid the ongoing local government crisis in the state.
“This was nothing but a blatant coup. The move is part of a broader plan to assassinate the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke,” the Osun PDP chairman said.
Recent reports showed that tensions in the State escalated when sacked local government officials of the opposition APC tried to regain control of council secretariats, leading to violent clashes resulting in six casualties.
Among the dead were Remi Abass, the ousted chairman for Irewole Local Government Area who was killed in Ikire town.
Bisi added, “The whole world must warn and prevail on Mr Kayode Egbetokun to desist from enabling these attempts on the life of our governor.
“The desperation to take over the state through any means possible has been clear since they (APC) lost the election.”
He troubling situation is a pointer to the APC’s desperation to reclaim power after being voted out in 2022.
According to Bisi, the PDP has evidence suggesting that APC elements in Osun have been plotting Adeleke’s removal.
The PDP leader questioned why the IGP allegedly bypassed the state governor in responding to the security crisis.
“Why did Egbetokun sidetrack Governor Adeleke before taking a position on the court judgement?” he asked.
He also accused the police boss of violating security protocols and creating an atmosphere of apprehension and uncertainty.
He claimed that nearly ten people had died in violent confrontations within 48 hours of the unrest.
“The blatant disregard for due process by the IGP is suspicious and dangerous. Rather than reinforcing security to protect lives, Egbetokun’s actions have emboldened troublemakers,” he asserted.
Bisi suggested that the police intervention was designed to disrupt the upcoming local government elections scheduled for Saturday, February 22, 2025.
“The IGP is ready to bend the rules and allow killings of our people just to prevent the elections from taking place. Osun State will not be intimidated by anyone, not even by an IGP whose tenure has been controversially extended.”
