Nigeria deploys top police official to supervise Osun governorship election security

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in Nigeria, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has taken a significant step to ensure the integrity of the upcoming Osun State governorship election by deploying Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Ishyaku Mohammed. DIG Mohammed's mission is to coordinate all security operations for the election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2026.

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The deployment is part of the Nigeria Police Force’s operational strategy to ensure a peaceful, secure and credible electoral process across the state.

According to CSP Aniete Iniedu, the Force Public Relations Officer, this deployment is a key component of the Nigeria Police Force's strategy to guarantee a secure, peaceful, and credible electoral process throughout the state. DIG Mohammed will lead the police's election security arrangements and work in close collaboration with other security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

To bolster supervision and intelligence-led policing, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police will be strategically positioned across the state's three senatorial districts. The Force has assured that comprehensive security measures are in place to protect voters, election officials, sensitive materials, polling units, and observers before, during, and after the election.

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ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery and other electoral offences would attract immediate arrest and prosecution.

IGP Disu issued a stern warning to political actors and their supporters, emphasizing that offenses such as ballot snatching, voter intimidation, and political thuggery will result in immediate arrest and prosecution. He also reiterated the ban on unauthorized individuals, including armed escorts and security aides, accompanying VIPs to polling and collation centers on election day. Furthermore, state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private security organizations are prohibited from participating in election security duties.

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state-established security outfits, quasi-security groups and private security organisations were prohibited from participating in election security duties, in line with established Nigeria Police Force election-security directives.

The Nigeria Police Force has reassured the residents and voters of Osun State of adequate security, urging citizens to exercise their civic rights without fear. The Force reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights, and the safeguarding of the electoral process's integrity.

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The Force reaffirmed its commitment to professionalism, neutrality, respect for human rights and the protection of the integrity of the electoral process.