Police Move To Calm NYSC Fears, Guarantee Maximum Security For Election Duty

• The Nigeria Police Force has assured NYSC members deployed for Saturday’s Osun governorship election of comprehensive security before, during and after the poll.

• The reassurance was delivered by senior police officers during a confidence-building visit ordered by the Inspector-General of Police to allay fears ahead of the high-stakes election.

• Police urged corps members to remain calm, impartial and committed to their responsibilities, assuring them that robust security measures had been put in place to protect election officials and voters.

• The corps members expressed confidence in the security arrangements and pledged to discharge their duties professionally as ad hoc officials across the state.

August 14, () — The Nigeria Police Force has intensified confidence-building measures ahead of Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, assuring National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members deployed as election officials of maximum security throughout the electoral process.

The assurance was conveyed on Thursday during a visit to corps members by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Aniedu Okokon, and the Commissioner of Police in charge of the Osun governorship election, CP Samuel Etaifo Erale.

The visit, undertaken on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, was aimed at reassuring the corps members that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to protect them before, during and after the governorship election.

Addressing the prospective ad hoc electoral officials, the senior police officers urged them to remain calm, professional and impartial while carrying out their constitutional responsibilities, stressing that the Force would ensure a safe and secure environment for the conduct of the poll.

They assured the corps members that their welfare and safety remained a top priority, noting that comprehensive security strategies had been activated across the state to prevent violence, intimidation and any disruption of the electoral process.

The police further encouraged the corps members to discharge their duties with integrity, neutrality and dedication, reminding them of the critical role they play in ensuring the credibility and transparency of Nigeria’s electoral process.

The NYSC members, in response, expressed confidence in the security arrangements outlined by the police and reaffirmed their readiness to participate in the governorship election.

Police Deploy CP Samuel Etaifo to Lead Osun Governorship Election Security  

Osun Poll: Disu Deploys DIG Ishyaku Mohammed To Lead Police Security Operations, Warns Troublemakers

The reassurance comes against the backdrop of heightened political tension in Osun State following weeks of intense campaigns, allegations of political intimidation, legal disputes and concerns over inflammatory rhetoric among political actors.

Security agencies have since increased personnel deployment across the state’s 30 local government areas, with the Nigeria Police Force, military and other security agencies promising to maintain law and order throughout the election.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is expected to deploy thousands of NYSC members as presiding officers and polling officials across the state’s polling units, making their safety a key component of the overall election security architecture.

Saturday’s governorship election is regarded as one of Nigeria’s most closely watched off-cycle polls, with incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party seeking re-election against the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji (AMBO), and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) flagbearer, Dr Najeem Salam, among other contenders.

With political stakes high and national attention fixed on Osun, the police say every necessary measure has been put in place to ensure that election officials, voters and other stakeholders carry out their civic responsibilities in a peaceful and secure environment.