The Nigeria Police Force and civil society organisations (CSOs) have pledged closer collaboration to ensure a peaceful, credible and violence-free Osun State governorship election.
The commitment was made during a meeting between the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, and civil society organisations led by the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Mr Samson Itodo.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Itodo said civil society groups were engaging the police to strengthen election security and public trust.
“We are worried that the political tension in this country is not something we should have to deal with. The safety and security of Nigerians during this very important exercise are paramount,” Itodo said.
He added that the organisations were not driven by partisan interests but by a commitment to supporting democratic institutions.
“We are not politicians, we are not anti-government. We are only interested in ensuring that our country gets it right,” he said.
Presenting findings from months of election monitoring, the CSOs warned that the Osun governorship election would serve as the last major electoral exercise before the 2027 general elections and could shape public confidence in election security nationwide.
The groups disclosed that 13 of Osun’s 30 local government areas had been classified as high-risk due to killings, violent attacks and heightened political tension.
According to the assessment, 34 fatalities were recorded in 44 violent incidents between June 2025 and June 2026, with violence evolving from coordinated shootings to political abductions and attacks on public institutions.
Itodo also raised concerns over public perception of the neutrality of security agencies, urging the police to resist political pressure.
“An election marred by insecurity, with perceived security bias, could undermine public trust and confidence,” he said.
The CSOs recommended risk-based deployment of security personnel to identified flashpoints, publication of clear rules of engagement for officers, rapid investigation of allegations of police misconduct, and stronger communication channels between security agencies, accredited observers and journalists.
They stressed that preventing violence alone would not be enough.
“The Force needs to demonstrate impartiality and operational readiness because a professionally secured election whose outcome is accepted by principal stakeholders will send a very important signal ahead of the 2027 elections,” they said.
Responding, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, assured Nigerians that the Force remained committed to professionalism and neutrality throughout the election.
“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,” the IGP said.
He said comprehensive security arrangements had already been put in place, including enhanced intelligence gathering, deployment of personnel and operational assets, and collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.
The police chief warned that electoral offenders would face the full weight of the law.
“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,” he said.
The IGP also appealed to political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that “no political ambition is worth the loss of a single Nigerian life“.
He encouraged residents of Osun State to participate in the election without fear and urged civil society organisations to continue voter education, election observation and advocacy while sharing only verified information with security agencies.
The meeting ended with both parties reaffirming their commitment to sustained collaboration to ensure that the Osun governorship election is peaceful, credible and strengthens confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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