By Michael Ofulue, Osogbo

The Osun Democratic Coalition has raised concerns over an alleged scheme by the Nigerian Police Force to instigate unrest in Osun State through targeted violence against its citizens.

The group alleges that multiple Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers have been deployed across the state to incite disorder by indiscriminately attacking members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

Comrade Yeken Inaolaji, the state coordinator for the Osun Democratic Coalition, accused the police of bias, claiming the MOPOL units had been mobilised to render Osun ungovernable.

In response, the Osun State government has rejected the police’s advice to suspend today’s local government elections, maintaining that the force is acting with political motives.

A statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr Oluomo Kolapo Alimi, condemned what he described as police partisanship, asserting that the security agency’s recommendation to halt the polls was prejudiced and undemocratic.

According to Alimi, after careful scrutiny of the police’s call for suspension, the state government concluded that it was designed to favour opposition elements, particularly the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He further argued that the police’s stance was part of a broader agenda to disrupt the democratic process, noting that the force had earlier aligned itself with the APC in enforcing a purported reinstatement order that no court had issued.

Alimi referenced a court ruling which upheld the dismissal of APC council officials, directed security agencies to ensure peaceful elections, and authorised fresh local government polls.

The commissioner criticised the police for allegedly disregarding this ruling while continuing to act in a partisan manner.

Despite security concerns raised by the police, the Osun State government reaffirmed its commitment to the elections and urged voters to participate peacefully.