Osun state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged the Nigerian Police Force to maintain neutrality and avoid partisanship as the preparation for 2026 election kicks-off in the state.
In a statement issued and signed by the state party chairman Hon. Sunday Bisi today at Osogbo, while commending the Inspector-General of Police and the Commissioner of Police for their professionalism, called attention to a recent disturbing trends of frequent arrest and detention of PDP members under suspicious circumstances.
The party noted what appears like a collusion between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and elements within the Police as petitions from APC against PDP members are treated by the Police with such urgent attention while similar style is not accorded complaints from PDP members.
Even more worrisome, according to the PDP, is that Police appears to be shielding the APC petitioners by immediately standing in their place rather than the APC as the petitioner.
Rather than calling the two complainants together, the Police mostly designated themselves as the complainant against the detained PDP members’ and proceeded to initiate court action.
Beyond the above, it was also discovered that such operations are often initiated from force headquarters, Abuja with attempts at times to move such arrested PDP operatives to the federal capital.
The party declared that in the last two weeks, more than four of such incidents have been recorded, calling on the Police authorities to nip this disturbing trend in the bud.
“We have full confidence in the neutrality and professionalism of the Inspector-General of Police and the State Commissioner of Police. What we itemized above may be mere isolated cases or actions of some junior officers.
“Whatever may be responsible, we task the Police authorities to put a stop to it. APC petitioners should no longer be shielded. The Police should be a neutral arbiter. The Police should not be the complainant in matters involving two political parties.
“Attempts to justify the trend on the ground that Police were involved in the issue fall flat because the same defence could have been provided by the PDP. When APC leaders or members petition the Police against PDP members, the service should conduct neutral investigations instead of protecting the APC petitioners and assuming the position of the petitioners.
“Our appeal is borne out of the need to sustain the positive working relationship between the Police and the PDP. It is too early for Osun to be involved in controversy over rights issues and electoral activities. We believe the Police will correct the negative trend in the interest of fairness, equity, and peace”, the statement signed by the State Chairman of the party, Hon Sunday Bisi posited.
