PSC Sends Crack Monitors, Declares Zero Tolerance for Police Misconduct

• Police Service Commission deploys a high-powered monitoring delegation to Osun to oversee police conduct before, during, and after Saturday’s governorship election.

• Retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Dr Taiwo Lakanu, to lead the team in ensuring officers remain impartial, disciplined, and professional on election duty.

• PSC warns police personnel to stay apolitical, protect voters’ rights, and uphold the integrity of the electoral process across the state.

• Commission vows to sanction any officer found compromising the credibility of the August 15 governorship poll through misconduct or abuse of office.

August 11, () — The Police Service Commission (PSC) has deployed a high-powered monitoring delegation to Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election, declaring zero tolerance for misconduct by police personnel and warning that any officer who compromises the credibility of the poll will face severe disciplinary sanctions.

The Commission said the move underscores its determination to safeguard the integrity of the August 15 governorship election by ensuring that police officers deployed for election duties conduct themselves professionally, impartially, and strictly in accordance with the law.

In a statement issued on Monday by the Head of Protocol and Public Relations of the Commission, Torty Njoku Kalu, the PSC announced that the delegation would be led by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Taiwo Lakanu, a member of the Commission’s Board and Chairman of its Standing Committee on Police Matters.

According to the Commission, the monitoring team will observe the conduct of police personnel before, during, and after the election to ensure strict compliance with the operational guidelines governing election security and policing.

It explained that the delegation would monitor officers across the state to ensure they maintain the highest standards of discipline, professionalism, and neutrality throughout the electoral process.

“The delegation will ensure that officers deployed for the election strictly adhere to the guiding principles governing election duties and uphold the highest standards of discipline and professionalism before, during, and after the polls,” the statement said.

The Commission stressed that preserving public confidence in the electoral process depends significantly on the conduct of security personnel, particularly the police, whose responsibility is to provide a secure environment for citizens to exercise their democratic rights without fear, intimidation, or harassment.

The PSC therefore directed all police personnel assigned to election duty in Osun State to remain politically neutral, respect the rights of all eligible voters, and discharge their responsibilities in line with the Constitution, electoral laws, and established policing standards.

“The Commission urges all Police officers assigned to Osun State for the election to display exemplary conduct, remain apolitical and protect the rights of all citizens to vote freely and peacefully,” it added.

The Commission further warned that it would not tolerate any act capable of undermining the integrity or credibility of the election.

“The PSC reassures Nigerians that it will not hesitate to sanction any officer found compromising the credibility of the election,” the statement said.

The deployment comes amid heightened political activities and extensive security preparations for Saturday’s governorship election, widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most significant off-cycle polls ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The election will feature incumbent Governor Ademola Adeleke of the Accord Party, All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate Asiwaju Munirudeen Bola Oyebamiji, African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate Dr Najeem Salam, and 11 other candidates seeking the mandate of Osun voters.

The PSC’s intervention follows similar assurances by the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies that comprehensive security arrangements have been put in place to ensure a peaceful, free, fair, and credible election across the State of the Living Spring.