Osun Election 2026: IGP Disu Meets Civil Society Groups, Assures Voters of Security and Neutral Policing

With the Osun State governorship election just days away, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Olatunji Rilwan Disu has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force will remain professional, impartial and fully prepared to secure the August 15 poll.

The assurance came during a strategic meeting with representatives of leading Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Friday at the Force Headquarters in Abuja. The engagement focused on strengthening election security and promoting a peaceful, free and credible electoral process.

The civil society delegation was led by Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC). Other participating organisations included YIAGA Africa, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Kimpact Development Initiative, Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), Partners West Africa, CLEEN Foundation, and several election-focused advocacy groups.

During the meeting, the organisations raised concerns about voter protection, political violence, misinformation, election-related security threats and the need to guarantee equal participation for vulnerable groups. They also shared recommendations aimed at improving public confidence in the electoral process.

Responding to the submissions, IGP Disu assured the delegation that the Police would carefully consider the issues raised. He reiterated the Force’s commitment to maintaining professionalism, fairness and political neutrality throughout the election while ensuring adequate deployment of security personnel across polling units.

The police chief also pledged special attention to persons with disabilities, saying measures would be put in place to ensure they can vote safely and without unnecessary barriers.

Describing the Osun governorship election as the final off-cycle governorship poll before the 2027 general elections, Disu said all stakeholders must work together to guarantee a peaceful and credible exercise that strengthens public confidence in Nigeria’s democratic institutions.

He further stressed the importance of sustained collaboration between the Nigeria Police Force and civil society organisations through timely intelligence sharing, responsible communication and coordinated engagement before, during and after the election. The IGP reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s democratic process and maintaining a high level of operational readiness throughout the election period.