The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force will deploy a minimum of four officers to each polling unit during the forthcoming Osun State governorship election.
Disu made this known on Friday while speaking at a meeting with civil society organisations in Abuja, where he outlined the security arrangements being put in place ahead of the election.
According to the IGP, the planned deployment will be one of the largest police operations ever conducted for an election in Osun State, considering the number of local governments, wards and polling units across the state.
Osun has 30 local government areas, 332 wards and 3,763 polling units, according to the figures cited during the meeting.
Disu said the scale of the deployment would exceed that of previous governorship elections, including the recent poll in Anambra State, which he described as largely peaceful.
He explained that the police plan to station no fewer than four officers at every polling unit, while personnel from other sister security agencies are also expected to provide additional security support.
The IGP said the decision was informed not only by the large number of polling locations but also by the level of tension surrounding the upcoming election.
“We intend to have nothing less than four policemen in all the polling booths,” Disu said, stressing that the police were preparing for a large-scale operation.
He added that early deployment was necessary to ensure that officers and other security personnel were properly positioned before voting begins.
According to him, police teams have already commenced deployment to Osun State, with particular attention being given to areas considered vulnerable to possible violence.
Disu said the massive security presence was designed to reassure residents and create an environment where voters could exercise their franchise without fear or intimidation.
He explained that police officers seen around polling areas would be there primarily to protect voters and maintain law and order throughout the electoral process.
The IGP also appealed to political parties, candidates and their supporters to avoid actions capable of disrupting the election.
He urged stakeholders to focus their campaigns on ideas, policies and programmes rather than violence, intimidation or threats.
“No political ambition is worth the loss of a single Nigerian life,” Disu said.
The Osun governorship election is expected to attract heightened security attention as authorities seek to prevent violence and ensure a peaceful electoral process before, during and after voting.
