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IGP Olatunji Disu assures Osun residents of maximum security before, during and after the August 15 governorship election, urging voters to participate without fear.
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Nigeria Police to deploy personnel to more than 3,000 polling units, with at least four officers assigned to every polling station across the state.
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Police chief attributes recent political violence to entrenched cult activities, announces deployment of an Assistant Inspector-General to strengthen election security.
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Yiaga Africa identifies 13 high-risk local government areas, reports 34 election-related deaths, and urges security agencies to remain neutral.
August 07, (THEWILL) — The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has assured residents of Osun State of comprehensive security before, during and after the August 15 governorship election, declaring that the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared to protect voters, election officials and all stakeholders throughout the electoral process.
The assurance comes amid growing concerns over escalating political violence in parts of the state, with election observer group Yiaga Africa identifying 13 local government areas as violence flashpoints and reporting that at least 34 people have been killed in politically-related incidents ahead of the poll.
Speaking on Friday during a stakeholders’ engagement on election security with civil society organisations, Disu urged eligible voters not to be intimidated by threats of violence, insisting that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful, transparent and credible election.
The IGP disclosed that the police had concluded plans to secure more than 3,000 polling units across Osun State, with a minimum of four officers assigned to every polling station.
According to him, the extensive deployment forms part of a broader security architecture designed to safeguard voters, electoral officials, election materials and critical public infrastructure throughout the election period.
READ ALSO: 15,000 Police, DIG, AIG Storm Osun As Election Security Tightens Ahead Of Guber Poll
Disu assured residents that the Nigeria Police Force would remain professional, impartial and committed to protecting every citizen’s constitutional right to vote without intimidation or harassment.
He urged the electorate to troop out in large numbers and participate peacefully in the democratic process, assuring them that security agencies would remain vigilant before, during and after the election.
‘No Election Is Worth Losing A Life’
Expressing concern over recent clashes involving political supporters, the police chief lamented that existing cult-related activities in parts of Osun had worsened political tensions.
“We have issues of cultism in Osun already. It became easier for different parties to attack each other using the existing animosity in the state”, Disu said.
He explained that the escalation of violence compelled the Force Headquarters to review its operational strategy, including directing the state’s Commissioner of Police to step aside to allow another senior officer coordinate election security operations.
The IGP also announced that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police would be deployed to Osun to reinforce security coordination ahead of the governorship election.
Warning politicians against violence, Disu declared that no political ambition was worth human blood.
“No election is worthy of losing anyone as elections will come and go”, he said, appealing to political parties, candidates and their supporters to embrace peace and conduct their campaigns within the confines of the law.
READ ALSO: Is the Police Taking Sides in Osun 2026 Poll?
Yiaga Raises Alarm Over Security Risks
Earlier, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, described the Osun governorship election as a defining moment for Nigeria’s democracy, noting that it would serve as a major test of the country’s electoral integrity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
According to him, the organisation’s election violence tracking has identified 13 local government areas as high-risk zones following persistent political clashes and killings. He disclosed that about 34 fatalities had already been recorded in election-related violence, warning that the trend posed a serious threat to voter confidence and democratic participation.
Itodo identified Osogbo and Irewole as the two local government areas classified under the critical-risk category, while Iwo, Boripe, Ife Central and Ife East were listed among other high-risk areas requiring heightened security attention.
The Yiaga Africa boss urged the police and other security agencies to maintain strict neutrality throughout the election, warning against any action capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.
He stressed that the credibility of the governorship election would depend significantly on the conduct of security personnel.
According to him, security agencies must resist attempts by political actors to influence their operations and ensure that every political party and candidate receives equal treatment before, during and after the poll.
Itodo noted that with the Osun election regarded as Nigeria’s most significant off-cycle governorship contest ahead of the 2027 general elections, the conduct of security agencies would send a strong signal about the country’s readiness to deliver credible elections.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
