Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has assured Nigerians that the police will remain neutral, professional and impartial during the August 15 Osun governorship election while warning against electoral violence.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will remain professional, apolitical and impartial before, during and after the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
Disu gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while receiving representatives of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), led by the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Rafsanjani, during a courtesy visit focused on election security.
The IGP said the engagement reflected a shared commitment by the police and civil society to ensure that the Osun governorship election is peaceful, credible, free and fair.
Responding to concerns raised by the CSOs over election security, voter intimidation, political violence, the activities of thugs and the neutrality of security agencies, Disu said the issues were legitimate and had been carefully addressed.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force has taken these concerns seriously and has put in place comprehensive security arrangements for the election,” he said.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains a professional, apolitical and impartial institution. We have no candidate, no political party and no vested interest in the outcome of the election other than ensuring that the lawful choice of the people prevails.”
According to the IGP, all officers assigned to election duties have been reminded of their constitutional responsibility to enforce the law without fear or favour.
He added that the police would provide a secure environment to enable eligible voters to exercise their democratic rights freely and without intimidation.
Disu disclosed that adequate personnel and operational assets had already been deployed across Osun State ahead of the poll.
He also revealed that intelligence gathering and threat assessments had been intensified to identify and neutralise potential security threats before they escalate.
The police, he said, are working closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) and other stakeholders to ensure effective coordination.
The IGP warned that anyone involved in vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, political thuggery or any other electoral offence would face the full weight of the law, regardless of political affiliation or social status.
He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that elections should be contests of ideas rather than violence.
“No political ambition is worth the loss of a single Nigerian life,” he said.
Earlier, CISLAC Executive Director Auwal Rafsanjani said the visit was aimed at strengthening collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force to ensure credible elections.
He expressed concern over rising political tension ahead of the Osun poll, emphasising the need for security agencies to remain impartial in order to sustain public confidence.
Rafsanjani also said civil society organisations had developed recommendations to support peaceful, transparent and violence-free elections.
Also speaking, Yiaga Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo said his organisation had independently monitored developments ahead of the Osun governorship election through incident tracking, public perception surveys and pre-election observation.
According to him, the findings identified emerging election security risks that require proactive attention.
Itodo described the Osun governorship election as a significant test ahead of the 2027 general elections, noting that the conduct of security agencies would play a crucial role in strengthening public trust in Nigeria’s electoral process.
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