Police Deploy DIG for Osun Governorship Election

The Nigeria Police Force has deployed Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ishyaku Mohammed to coordinate security operations for the 15 August Osun governorship election.

Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu approved the deployment as part of measures to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible election in Osun State. Force Public Relations Officer Anitie Iniedu announced the deployment in Abuja on Wednesday.

Mohammed will lead the police side of the election security arrangement and work with other security agencies through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police will support him across the state’s three senatorial districts. They will oversee operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing and respond quickly to emerging threats.

The IGP said the police had made arrangements to protect voters, INEC officials, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and journalists before, during and after the Osun election.

He also warned political actors, supporters and potential troublemakers that ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and other electoral offences would lead to arrest and prosecution.

Disu again banned armed escorts, security aides and other unauthorised persons from accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units or collation centres on election day.

“State-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organisations are equally barred from election-security duties, consistent with established NPF election-security directives,” he said.

The IGP assured residents, voters and visitors that the police would provide adequate protection during the Osun election. He urged eligible citizens to vote peacefully and without fear while stressing the force’s commitment to professionalism, neutrality, human rights and electoral integrity.

On 31 July, Disu had also deployed Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale to oversee the election. The move followed calls for the removal of CP Ibrahim Gotan over allegations of partisanship and poor handling of election-related security.

Will the latest police deployment help deliver a peaceful and credible Osun election?