The Nigeria Police Force has announced a major security operation across Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, with more than 15,000 officers and 30 Commissioners of Police deployed to maintain law and order.
The police disclosed this on Thursday as preparations intensified for the August 15 election, which has Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress and Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress among the leading contenders.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the security deployment began about three weeks before the election and would be coordinated by a Deputy Inspector-General of Police.
He explained that every local government area in the state would have a Police Mobile Force unit, with each unit consisting of about 60 officers. A Commissioner of Police and Deputy Commissioner would also be assigned to each local government area to oversee security operations.
Two additional Mobile Police Force units have been deployed to the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Osogbo, while a Mobile Police commander with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police will also operate in each local government.
The police have also brought a helicopter and drone unit into the state to conduct aerial and ground surveillance before, during and after the election.
Iniedu said the state would effectively be placed under a movement restriction from midnight on Saturday, with vehicular movement limited to essential services, security personnel and voters travelling to cast their ballots.
The Army is expected to assist with the control of major entry and exit routes into the state during the restriction period.
The police spokesman warned parents to caution their children against electoral offences such as intimidation, stalking, vote-buying and snatching of ballot boxes.
He also disclosed that a mobile court would be available to handle cases involving people arrested for electoral offences.
According to the police, about 34 illegal firearms have so far been recovered in Osun as part of efforts to prevent violence during the election. Investigations into the weapons and those linked to them are still ongoing.
Meanwhile, allegations of vote-buying have emerged in parts of Osogbo ahead of the poll.
Some traders and residents claimed that people presenting themselves as political party canvassers had distributed cash to them while seeking their support for Saturday’s election.
Residents in markets including Oja Ojude Oga, Ota Efun, Igbona and Alekuwodo reportedly received amounts ranging from N10,000 to N15,000. Some claimed they were promised additional payments on election day if they supported particular candidates.
The Osun APC denied involvement in vote-buying, saying the party had no need to engage in such practices because of its popularity and the strength of its candidate.
Efforts to obtain a response from the Accord Party spokesperson were unsuccessful as calls placed to his phone did not go through, while a reply to a message had not been received at the time of the report.
Separately, some suspected hoodlums were reportedly arrested in Ifewara by Nigerian Navy personnel. The suspects were said to have been travelling in a vehicle bearing APC colours.
A video circulating online showed about 12 people kneeling near a wall while Navy personnel questioned them. The APC spokesperson said he had not seen the video and would respond after examining it.
As security preparations continued, the Independent National Electoral Commission urged political parties and candidates to respect the peace agreement signed ahead of the election.
The commission said the agreement was designed to secure a peaceful election and required political actors to avoid violence and obey the law before, during and after voting.
INEC also said it had assessed the security and political situation across Osun State and held meetings with political parties, traditional institutions, civil society groups and other stakeholders.
The commission acknowledged that tensions had risen in some parts of the state but expressed confidence that the election would take place under adequate security.
It disclosed that non-sensitive election materials had already been distributed to local government areas, while sensitive materials were scheduled to be moved from the Central Bank of Nigeria to the local government offices before being taken to Registration Area Centres.
INEC said officials would be positioned at the polling areas ahead of election day, with voting expected to begin from 8:30am.
The commission also confirmed that its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System had been tested and upgraded ahead of the election. More backup devices have been provided to reduce the effect of possible technical problems during accreditation.
Situational rooms in Osogbo and Abuja will also monitor the election and allow officials to follow developments at polling units across the state.
More than 2.3 million people are registered to vote in Osun State. INEC said 1,906,390 Permanent Voter Cards had been collected, representing 81.50 per cent of registered voters.
A total of 426,842 PVCs, representing 18.50 per cent, remain uncollected and have been deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria.
The commission further disclosed that 6,101 people who applied for replacement of damaged, lost or defaced PVCs had printed downloadable copies of their cards.
INEC urged voters to remain calm if they encounter irregularities at polling units and report such incidents through the proper channels rather than engaging in confrontation.
The commission also warned political parties and voters against vote-buying, noting that both the giver and receiver could face legal consequences.
With the election scheduled for Saturday, security agencies and electoral officials are continuing their final preparations as political parties seek the support of voters across the state.