Police deploy 15,000 personnel across Osun and warn anyone violating electoral laws before, during and after the governorship election.
The Nigeria Police Force on Wednesday said all violators of electoral laws would be held accountable for all their actions before, during and after election.
The authority also made it cleared that about 15,000 personnel would be deployed, including Commissioners of Police, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Police Mobile Force (PMF) operatives and other specialized units, to provide security for the August 15 Osun State governorship election.
THISDAY also learnt exclusively on Wednesday that 1 DIG, 3 AIG, 37CPs would be deployed to ensure credible, inclusive, and transparent election, as one Commissioner of Police would mount 30 local government areas including Modakeke area office.
The Commissioner Police in charge of Osun state election CP Samuel EraleEtaifo disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing journalists and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo.
The police boss assured residents and political stakeholders that the police would remain neutral, professional and committed to delivering a peaceful, free, fair and credible election.
Etaifo said the Inspector-General of Police had given him a clear mandate to restore peace, build public confidence and coordinate security arrangements that would guarantee a conducive atmosphere for the governorship poll.
According to him, he had already paid a courtesy visit to Governor Ademola Adeleke to brief him on his assignment and the determination of the police hierarchy to stabilize the state’s security architecture ahead of the election.
“I met the governor and informed him about my mandate in Osun State. The Inspector-General of Police directed me to pacify the state and stabilize the security situation in preparation for a free, fair and credible election,” the commissioner said.
He explained that the early deployment of security personnel was designed to reassure residents and encourage massive voter participation by eliminating fear and intimidation.
“We cannot have a hostile atmosphere and expect to conduct a free and fair election.
The early arrival of police personnel is to boost the confidence of the people of Osun State and discourage voter apathy. We want every eligible voter to believe that they can come out and exercise their civic responsibility without fear,” he stated.
He said the police, in collaboration with other security agencies, would provide adequate protection for officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), election materials, voters and other stakeholders throughout the electoral process.
The meeting formed part of the Osun State Police Command’s final preparations for the governorship election and was attended by divisional police officers from across the state, senior police officers and journalists covering security and political affairs.
