Police Warn Thugs, Vote Buyers Ahead Of Osun Poll
The Nigeria Police Force has stepped up security preparations for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, deploying Deputy Inspector General of Police Ishyaku Mohammed to coordinate operations across the state as political activities intensify ahead of the poll.
Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu ordered the deployment as part of measures to protect voters, election officials, materials and other stakeholders. The police said senior officers, including Assistant Inspectors General and Commissioners of Police, have also been positioned across Osun’s three senatorial districts to coordinate intelligence gathering and respond quickly to emerging threats.
According to the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, Mohammed will coordinate the police component of the election security architecture while working with other security agencies through the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
The police said its arrangements cover polling units, collation centres, movement of electoral materials and the protection of accredited observers and journalists. The stated objective is to enable eligible voters to cast their ballots without intimidation or disruption.
Disu has warned against ballot snatching, voter intimidation, political thuggery, vote buying and other electoral offences. The police said persons found violating the Electoral Act or attempting to interfere with the process will be arrested and prosecuted regardless of their political affiliation or status.
The Force has also reiterated that political candidates and office holders cannot bring armed escorts, private security personnel or other unauthorised security groups to polling units and collation centres. State backed vigilante groups, quasi security organisations and private security companies are similarly excluded from election security duties.
The security emphasis comes against a wider history of concerns over electoral violence and vote buying in Osun. Ahead of the 2026 election, the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mutiu Agboke, had urged political stakeholders to reject violence and voter inducement. YIAGA Africa has also previously documented election related threats involving violence, intimidation, attacks and inducement in Osun and other states.
The election is scheduled for August 15, 2026. INEC’s current election calendar confirms the date, while the commission has identified the Osun poll as one of the major electoral events preceding the 2027 general elections.
Fourteen political parties are participating in the contest. Among the leading candidates are incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, APC candidate Bola Oyebamiji and ADC candidate Najeem Salam.
The police deployment therefore places particular attention on neutrality, rapid response and enforcement as voters prepare to determine who will govern the state for the next four years.