The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has assured residents of Osun State and other Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will remain professional, apolitical and impartial throughout the August 15 governorship election.
Disu gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while meeting with a delegation of civil society organisations led by Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). The meeting focused on security preparations and concerns surrounding the forthcoming poll.
The police chief acknowledged concerns over possible electoral violence, voter intimidation, political thuggery and the perceived neutrality of security agencies. He said the concerns were legitimate and required transparency and concrete measures from law enforcement authorities.
Disu said the police had already put comprehensive security arrangements in place for the election and stressed that the force has no preferred candidate or political party. He maintained that its primary responsibility is to ensure that voters are able to freely exercise their constitutional rights.
He further disclosed that officers assigned to election duties had been reminded of their constitutional obligations to enforce the law fairly and without favour. Adequate personnel and operational resources have also been deployed across the state, while intelligence gathering and threat assessments have been intensified ahead of the poll.
The IGP warned that anyone involved in vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, political thuggery or other electoral offences would face legal consequences, irrespective of their political affiliation or status.
Disu also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid violence and conduct their campaigns responsibly. He urged Osun residents to participate peacefully and report suspicious activities to security personnel.
Speaking earlier, Rafsanjani said civil society organisations would continue working with security agencies to support a free, fair and credible election. Yiaga Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo described the Osun election as an important test for Nigeria's electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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