Osun Election: Why Police Are Deploying 14,692 Officers Across 3,673 Polling Units

The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has announced the deployment of four police officers to each of the 3,673 polling units across Osun State for the August 15 governorship election.

Disu disclosed this on Friday during a meeting with civil society organisations working on electoral matters at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The IGP warned political actors and their supporters against violence, thuggery, vote buying, voter intimidation, ballot-box snatching and other electoral offences, stressing that the police would deal firmly and impartially with offenders regardless of their political affiliation.

He said the Nigeria Police Force had commenced early deployment of personnel and would work with other security agencies, with the police serving as the lead agency for election security.

According to him, Commissioner of Police Samuel Erale Etaifo has been deployed as the operational commander for the election in Osun, while an Assistant Inspector-General of Police will provide senior-level oversight.

Disu also named Commissioner of Police Abayomi Shogunle as the officer responsible for coordinating operations from the central monitoring centre in Abuja.

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The IGP said the police would conduct a visible deterrence operation, including a show of force, while roadblocks and other movement-control measures would be introduced to restrict unauthorised movement on election day.

He further stated that politicians would not be permitted to move around with security aides or armed escorts during the election.

Disu also expressed concern over the proliferation of cult groups in the state, saying police investigations had uncovered instances where some groups were allegedly recruited by political actors.

He disclosed that arrests had already been made and assured that enforcement operations against cult groups and politically linked criminal networks would continue.

Meanwhile, civil society organisations at the meeting raised concerns over the security situation ahead of the election, particularly alleged political violence and questions surrounding the neutrality of security agencies.

The coalition said 13 of Osun State’s 30 local government areas had been classified as high-risk areas due to reported killings, attacks, political abductions, shootings and violence around local government secretariats.

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The CSOs further disclosed that their assessment recorded 34 fatalities across 44 incidents between June 2025 and June 2026.

Organisations represented at the meeting included the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID), CLEEN Foundation, Kukah Centre, Kimpact Development Initiative, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Partners West Africa, TAF Africa and Yiaga Africa.

The Osun State governorship election is scheduled to hold on Saturday, August 15, 2026.