Morganable Politics/Elections
The IGP said the police would deploy more personnel than were used during recent governorship elections in other states, noting that security agencies were also expected to deploy their personnel to polling locations to complement the police
kaNo —
The Nigeria Police Force has announced plans to deploy a minimum of four police officers to each of the 3,673 polling units in Osun State ahead of the August 15 governorship election, in what the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, described as one of the largest security operations mounted for a state election.
The deployment, according to the police chief, is aimed at protecting voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders while preventing violence before, during and after the poll.
Disu disclosed the plan on Friday during a meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja, where he said the scale of the operation was informed by the number of polling units across the state and the tension generated by the election.
Osun has 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,673 polling units.
The IGP said the police would deploy more personnel than were used during recent governorship elections in other states, noting that security agencies were also expected to deploy their personnel to polling locations to complement the police.
He said, “The number of officers who are deploying is huge. But you take into consideration the tension that the election is already generating and the fact that we have 3,673 polling units.
Police To Deploy Four Officers Per Polling Unit
“We intend to have nothing less than four police personnel in all the polling booths. We intend to do that. And then don’t forget that we have other sister agencies supporting us who should also be at the polling units.”he added
He said the police had commenced the deployment of teams to Osun, particularly in areas considered vulnerable to violence, adding that the visibility of security personnel was intended to reassure residents and encourage them to exercise their franchise without fear.
The police chief urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid actions capable of undermining the election, stressing that political contests should be based on ideas, programmes and policies rather than violence.
“No political ambition is worth the loss of a single Nigerian life,” Disu warned.
Osun Election Will Serve As A Litmus Paper-Yiaga
The Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, described the August 15 election as a “litmus test” for efforts to rebuild public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral system ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Itodo identified the neutrality of security agencies, particularly the police, as one of the major issues likely to determine public confidence in the election.
“The neutrality of the police force is central to this. Of particular concern to the public is the neutrality of our security agencies,” he said.
According to Itodo, 13 of Osun’s 30 local government areas have been classified as high-risk due to previous killings, violent attacks and heightened political tension.
He said the pattern of violence in the state had evolved over time, moving from coordinated shootings in different communities to political abductions and attacks around state institutions.
“If you see the pattern of violence across the state, it has morphed or metamorphosed from coordinated shootings around multiple neighbourhoods to political abductions and then violence around state institutions, like local governments,” Itodo said.
He identified Osogbo as a critical-risk area requiring strong urban command and control, while Irewole was also described as a major hotspot.
Other local government areas identified as requiring heightened security attention include Iwo, Boripe, Ife Central and Ife East.
Itodo urged the police and other security agencies to adopt risk-specific deployment strategies rather than applying a uniform approach across the state.
He disclosed that about 34 fatalities had been recorded in 44 incidents across Osun between June 2025 and June 2026, underscoring the need for adequate security arrangements before voters head to the polls.
Let Us Reject Violence,Intimidation, Davido Urges Osun Voters
Meanwhile, Afrobeats singer, David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has joined calls for a peaceful election, urging political actors and residents to reject violence and intimidation.
“Let us reject violence, intimidation, provocation, and every act capable of disrupting the peace of our communities. Your vote is your voice, and your choice deserves to be respected,” he wrote.
The singer urged Osun residents to demonstrate their commitment to democracy by allowing voters to freely determine who governs the state.
“LET THE OSUN PPLE DECIDE! FREE AND FAIR! VOTE NOT FIGHT!” he added.
However, Davido also openly declared support for his uncle’s re-election bid, stating, “ACCORD IS THE PARTY! ADEMOLA ADELEKE IS THE CHOICE!”
His intervention has attracted considerable attention because of his popularity among young Nigerians and his longstanding involvement in his uncle’s political career.
Ahead of the 2026 election, the singer has become more actively involved in campaign activities following Adeleke’s defection from the Peoples Democratic Party to the Accord Party.
He has also previously called on the major contenders in the election, including Adeleke and the APC candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, to accept the verdict of voters.
The singer had expressed concerns about the credibility of the electoral process, even warning that he would seek international attention if the election was compromised.
With the election drawing closer, security agencies face the task of protecting voters while maintaining impartiality and preventing political violence.
For civil society organisations, the success of the exercise will depend not only on the number of security personnel deployed but also on their professionalism, neutrality and ability to respond appropriately to emerging threats.
