Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will remain professional, apolitical and impartial before, during and after the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Gatekeepers News report that Disu gave the assurance on Friday in Abuja when representatives of civil society organisations (CSOs), led by Auwal Rafsanjani, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), paid him a courtesy visit.
The meeting focused on election security and preparations for the Osun governorship poll.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Disu said the engagement reflected the shared commitment of the police and CSOs to ensuring a peaceful, credible, free and fair election.
The IGP acknowledged concerns over election-related violence, voter intimidation, the activities of political thugs and the neutrality of security agencies.
He described the concerns as legitimate, saying they should be addressed through dialogue, transparency and practical measures.
“I want to assure Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force has taken these concerns seriously and has put in place comprehensive security arrangements for the election,” he said.
“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.”
Disu said all police officers deployed for election duties had been reminded of their constitutional responsibility to enforce the law without fear or favour.
He added that the police would provide a secure environment for eligible voters to exercise their constitutional rights freely and without intimidation.
According to the IGP, adequate personnel and operational assets have been deployed across Osun State ahead of the election, while intelligence gathering and threat assessments have been intensified to identify and neutralise potential threats before they escalate.
“We are working closely with other members of the InterAgency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), INEC and other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coordination,” he said.
“Anyone found engaging in vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, thuggery or any other electoral offence will be dealt with in accordance with the law, irrespective of political affiliation or status.”
The IGP urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly before, during and after the election, stressing that elections should be contests of ideas and policies rather than violence or intimidation.
He said no political ambition was worth the loss of a single Nigerian life and called on political leaders to prevail on their supporters to reject violence and respect the rule of law.
Disu also urged residents of Osun to come out peacefully and confidently to exercise their franchise.
“Do not allow yourselves to be intimidated by rumours, misinformation or the actions of a few individuals who seek to undermine the democratic process,” he said.
