By Mercy Gadia
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Ishyaku Mohammed, to lead and coordinate security operations for the Osun State governorship election scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.
The deployment is part of the Nigeria Police Force’s operational measures to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible election across the state.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday, adding that DIG Mohammed would coordinate the police component of the election security arrangement.
According to the statement, the DIG will work closely with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to ensure effective coordination before, during and after the poll.
Mohammed will be supported by Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police strategically deployed across Osun State’s three senatorial districts.
The senior officers are expected to supervise security operations, strengthen intelligence-led policing, improve intelligence gathering and ensure prompt response to emerging threats during the election.
The police said adequate security arrangements had also been put in place to protect voters, Independent National Electoral Commission personnel, election materials, polling units, collation centres, accredited observers and media practitioners.
Disu warned political actors, their supporters and other individuals planning to disrupt the election against acts capable of undermining the electoral process.
He specifically warned against ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and other electoral offences, stressing that offenders would be promptly arrested and prosecuted.
The IGP also reiterated the ban on armed escorts, security aides and other unauthorised persons accompanying political figures or VIPs to polling units and collation centres on election day.
He further stated that state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations were barred from participating in election-security duties, in line with established police directives.
The Force urged residents, voters and visitors in Osun State to remain calm and exercise their franchise peacefully and without fear.
It assured the public that police personnel deployed for the election would maintain professionalism and neutrality while respecting human rights and protecting the integrity of the electoral process.
The police also called on all stakeholders to cooperate with security agencies to ensure that the August 15 governorship election is conducted in a peaceful and orderly environment.