Police chief assures residents of a peaceful poll as Governor Adeleke demands neutrality from security agencies.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, on Friday met with Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke and key stakeholders in Osogbo as part of efforts to prevent political violence ahead of the state’s governorship election scheduled for August 15.
The IGP, accompanied by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 7, AIG Fasuba Olabode, urged residents to reject violence and warned that the police would take decisive action against anyone attempting to disrupt the electoral process. He also appealed to parents to prevent their children from being used as political thugs.
Governor Adeleke reaffirmed his administration’s zero tolerance for electoral violence, stressing that anyone found engaging in thuggery or misconduct, regardless of political affiliation, should be arrested and prosecuted. He also urged the police to remain professional, impartial, and politically neutral throughout the election.
Disu assured stakeholders that the Nigeria Police Force would provide adequate security before, during, and after the poll to ensure a peaceful, free, and credible election.
The governorship election, rescheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from August 8 to August 15 for logistical reasons, will involve 1,954,800 registered voters. INEC disclosed that 1,594,006 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected, while 360,794 remain unclaimed, reiterating that only voters with valid PVCs will be allowed to vote.