The Inspector General of Police, Tunji Disu, has announced plans to deploy at least four police officers to each polling unit during the August 15 governorship election in Osun State.
Disu disclosed this on Friday at a meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja, describing the operation as one of the largest security deployments the state has witnessed.
Osun has 3,673 polling units across 30 local government areas and 332 wards.
He said the police deployment would be complemented by personnel from other security agencies, with officers already being moved to the state, particularly areas identified as potential hotspots. According to him, the heavy presence is aimed at reassuring voters and enabling them to participate without fear or intimidation.
The police chief urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully, stressing that political contests should be based on ideas and policies rather than violence.
He warned that no political ambition is worth the loss of a Nigerian life.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, described the election as a major test of public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process ahead of the 2027 general elections. He identified the neutrality of security agencies as a major concern and said 13 of Osun’s 30 local government areas had been classified as high risk due to previous killings, attacks and rising political tensions.
Itodo listed Osogbo, Irewole, Iwo, Boripe, Ife Central and Ife East among areas requiring heightened security attention and urged the police to adopt risk-based deployment ahead of the poll.
