Police Have No Political Interest in Osun Governorship Election

Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will remain professional, neutral and impartial before, during and after the August 15 Osun State governorship election, insisting that the police have no political interest in the outcome of the poll.

Disu gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja while receiving representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs) led by Auwal Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), who visited to discuss election security and measures to ensure a peaceful electoral process.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the IGP described the meeting as evidence of a shared commitment between the police and civil society to guarantee a free, fair and credible governorship election in Osun State.

Disu acknowledged concerns raised by the CSOs regarding election violence, voter intimidation, political thuggery and the neutrality of security agencies, noting that such issues are legitimate and deserve serious attention.

He said the police have already put in place comprehensive security arrangements to safeguard the election and maintain public confidence throughout the process.

“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,” he said.

The IGP explained that officers deployed for election duties have been reminded of their constitutional responsibility to enforce the law without bias or favouritism.

He added that adequate personnel, intelligence assets and operational resources have been mobilised across Osun State, while intelligence gathering has been intensified to identify and neutralise potential threats before they escalate.

Disu said the police 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.

He warned that anyone involved in vote buying, ballot box snatching, voter intimidation, electoral violence or other election-related offences would face prosecution regardless of political affiliation or social status.

The police chief also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that elections should be contests of ideas rather than violence.

He urged eligible voters to participate without fear, assuring them of adequate security while encouraging citizens to promptly report suspicious activities to security personnel.

Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Rafsanjani said the organisations were committed to supporting security agencies in delivering peaceful elections, while Yiaga Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo described the Osun governorship election as an important test for Nigeria’s electoral preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.