…CSOs share principal election-security risks from survey

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has assured Osun state electorate, the civil society community and other stakeholders of adequate security as well as the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) neutrality and professionalism before, during and after the August 15 governorship election in the state.

This is as Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), led by the Executive Director of Yiaga Africa, Samson Itodo, have shared principal election-security risks emerging from their assessment as well as proffered  practical measures the NPF can take to safeguard a peaceful, credible and publicly accepted election.

The Police boss, who spoke during a meeting with civil society organisations on their concerns on election security in Osun state, pledged adequate security to enable voters exercise their franchise without intimidation.

IGP Disu while addressing concerns over possible violence, voter intimidation,  political thuggery and the neutrality of security agencies noted that the concerns were legitimate and would be addressed through dialogue, transparency and practical security measures.

He said the meeting reflected the shared commitment of the Police and civil society to ensuring that the election is peaceful, credible, free and fair; stressing the NPF was an apolitical and impartial institution with no preferred candidate, political party or vested interest in the outcome of the election.

“We have no candidate, no political party and no vested interest in the outcome of the election other than ensuring that the lawful choice of the people prevails,” he said.

According to IGP Disu, every police officer deployed on election duties has been reminded of their constitutional responsibility to enforce the law without fear or favour.

He assured eligible voters that the Police would provide a secure environment for them to cast their ballots freely and without intimidation.

Speaking further he disclosed that adequate personnel and operational assets had been deployed across Osun state, while intelligence gathering and threat assessments had been intensified to identify and neutralise potential security threats before they escalate.

The Police boss said the NPF was working closely with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as well as other relevant stakeholders to ensure effective coordination during the election.

The IGP, however, warned that individuals or groups found to be involved in vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot box snatching, political thuggery and other electoral offences would be dealt with in accordance with the law, irrespective of their political affiliation or status.

He urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to conduct themselves responsibly before, during and after the election, stressing that political contests should be based on ideas and policies rather than violence.

IGP Disu called on political leaders to prevail on their supporters to reject violence and respect the rule of law, noting that peaceful conduct by political actors was essential to the credibility of the electoral process.

Earlier, Samson Itodo, who spoke on behalf of the civil societies, noted that “over the past six months, our organisations have independently monitored the pre-election environment in Osun state through incident tracking, public perception surveys and field observation. We have consolidated these findings into a common assessment.

“Our purpose today is to share the principal election-security risks emerging from that assessment and to discuss practical measures the NPF can take to safeguard a peaceful, credible and publicly accepted election.”

Itodo, who described the governorship election as being of strategic importance as the last major election before the 2027 general elections, said it “Therefore carries significance beyond the state. It presents an important opportunity to rebuild public trust in election security, demonstrate institutional neutrality and establish confidence in the capacity of security agencies to manage a highly competitive electoral environment.

“Given the level of pre-election violence and political tension, an election marred by insecurity or perceived security bias could deepen distrust ahead of 2027. Conversely, a peaceful and professionally secured election whose outcome is broadly accepted would strengthen the legitimacy of the electoral process and public confidence in security institutions.”

He further stated that consolidated assessment of the security environment indicated,  “A marked escalation in electoral violence and political tension. Thirteen of the 30 Local Government Areas in the state are classified as high-risk, having recorded killings, violent attacks and heightened political tensions.

“The pattern of violence has also evolved beyond isolated criminal incidents to include the targeting of party leaders and offices, coordinated shootings across multiple neighbourhoods, political abductions, and violence around local government secretariats.

“The human cost is significant. There is a record of 34 known fatalities across 44 incidents between June 2025 and June 2026. Neutrality and public confidence as core security risks

Of particular concern is public confidence in the neutrality of security agencies.

“In a survey of 669 residents across the state, concerns about aggressive use of force and the partiality of security agents attracted agreement from roughly nine in ten respondents, making security conduct the most frequently identified risk domain ahead of thuggery, cultism and misinformation.

“This finding sits alongside publicly reported calls by electoral stakeholders and members of the public for the redeployment of the Osun State Commissioner of Police. These perceptions are themselves a security risks. Where citizens and political actors doubt the impartiality of law-enforcement agencies, routine security actions may be interpreted through a partisan lens, increasing the likelihood of resistance, escalation and rejection of legitimate enforcement measures.

“Security agencies, especially the NPF therefore enter the election with a heightened obligation not only to act professionally and impartially, but also to make that neutrality visible and verifiable.

“The credibility of the election will depend not only on the absence of violence, but also on public confidence that security institutions enforce electoral laws impartially, protect political actors and citizens equitably, and respond to threats without fear, favour or political interference.”

The CSOs concluded by stressing that: “The Police must prevent violence, but prevention alone will not be sufficient. The NPF must also demonstrate impartiality, proportionality, accountability and operational readiness.

“A professionally secured election whose outcome is accepted by the principal stakeholders would send an important signal ahead of the 2027 general election that Nigeria’s security institutions can protect the electoral process without becoming actors in it.”