…Describes governorship poll as final off-cycle election before 2027 general elections
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has assured civil society organisations (CSOs) of the Nigeria Police Force’s commitment to providing a secure, peaceful and credible environment for the August 15 Osun State Governorship Election, while calling for closer collaboration to strengthen public confidence in the electoral process.
The assurance came on Friday during a strategic engagement with representatives of civil society organisations at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, as part of preparations for the governorship election.
The delegation was led by the Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, and included representatives of YIAGA Africa, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Kimpact Development Initiative, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Partners West Africa, CLEEN Foundation and other civil society organisations.
During the meeting, the organisations presented observations and recommendations on key election security issues, including voter protection, political violence, misinformation and disinformation, as well as the participation of women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
Responding, the Inspector-General assured the delegation that the issues raised would receive due attention as the Police finalise security arrangements for the election.
He reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to professionalism, neutrality and impartiality throughout the electoral process, assuring that adequate personnel would be deployed across polling units to guarantee the safety of voters, election officials and electoral materials.
The IGP also disclosed that special attention would be given to persons with disabilities to ensure they are able to participate in the election without intimidation or unnecessary barriers.
Describing the Osun governorship election as the last off-cycle election before the 2027 General Elections, Disu said the poll presents an important opportunity to strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic process and demonstrate the collective commitment of all stakeholders to peaceful and credible elections.
He called on civil society organisations to sustain their partnership with the Nigeria Police Force through the timely sharing of credible information, constructive engagement and responsible public communication before, during and after the election.
The engagement forms part of the Nigeria Police Force’s broader election security strategy aimed at deepening stakeholder collaboration, enhancing operational preparedness and safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process ahead of the Osun governorship poll.
