By Adewole Kehinde
With the August 15, 2026 Osun State Governorship Election fast approaching, the responsibility of ensuring a peaceful, credible, free and fair electoral process rests heavily on the shoulders of security agencies, particularly the Nigeria Police Force under the leadership of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Rilwan Disu.
The successful conduct of the recently concluded Ekiti State Governorship Election has once again demonstrated that elections can be conducted peacefully when adequate security arrangements are put in place. However, the peculiar political atmosphere in Osun State requires even stronger measures to guarantee the integrity of the electoral process.
One important step the IGP should consider is the redeployment of the Commissioner of Police in Osun State at least one month before the election. Similarly, all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) across the state should be redeployed to ensure neutrality and eliminate any perception of bias.
It is particularly unfortunate that the Governor, who constitutionally serves as the Chief Security Officer of the state, appears not to have confidence in the current Commissioner of Police. Such a situation should be a matter of serious concern for the police hierarchy because confidence between political stakeholders and security agencies is essential for peaceful elections.
To further strengthen election security, police personnel deployed to polling units should be complemented by officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). Beyond maintaining law and order, some security personnel should assist in ensuring that the Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) presented by voters correspond with the names on the voters’ register. While electoral officials remain responsible for accreditation, every effort should be made to discourage impersonation and electoral fraud.
Vote-buying remains one of the greatest threats to Nigeria’s democracy. Consequently, all Point of Sale (POS) transactions should be prohibited within and around polling units on election day. Security agencies must strictly enforce this measure to prevent the movement of funds intended to influence voters.
Similarly, local eateries located close to polling units should be temporarily shut down during voting hours. Experience from recent governorship elections has shown that many vote-buying operations are coordinated from nearby restaurants and food outlets where party agents and political operatives gather away from public scrutiny.
Security agencies should also discourage individuals from coming to polling units with bags, backpacks and nylon bags. Intelligence gathered from previous elections indicates that some of these bags are used to transport large numbers of PVCs allegedly collected by political actors and distributed to party loyalists for unlawful voting activities. Restricting such items within polling environments would help strengthen electoral integrity.
Another critical area requiring attention is the welfare of security personnel. Police officers deployed for election duties must be adequately catered for in terms of allowances, logistics and welfare support. Poor welfare conditions can expose personnel to undue influence and compromise by desperate politicians. The deployment of body cameras for election duty officers should also be encouraged as a transparency mechanism that can provide credible evidence where disputes arise.
Furthermore, the Osun Governorship Election will require a massive show of force by security agencies. This is not intended to intimidate voters but rather to deter hoodlums, political thugs and criminal elements who may seek to disrupt the democratic process. Visible security presence across the state will reassure law-abiding citizens while discouraging troublemakers.
Hotels across Osun State should also be placed on security watchlists and red alerts. Reliable information suggests that some politicians may have started bringing individuals from neighbouring states and lodging them in hotels weeks before the election. Security agencies must monitor such movements closely to prevent any attempt to undermine security arrangements designed to ensure a peaceful election.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) equally deserves commendation for the improvements witnessed during the Ekiti Governorship Election. The commission demonstrated significant progress in logistics, voter accreditation and overall election management.
Nevertheless, there is still room for improvement ahead of the Osun election. INEC should consider displaying the voters’ register at least one week before election day. Such a measure would enable voters to easily identify their polling units, verify their details and reduce delays during accreditation and voting. Early display of the register would also help election officials manage crowds more efficiently.
As preparations intensify for the August 15election, all security agencies must work together to build public confidence in the electoral process. The confidence of voters is a crucial factor in determining voter turnout. When citizens are assured of their safety and convinced that their votes will count, they are more likely to come out in large numbers to exercise their constitutional right.
Ultimately, the success of the Osun State Governorship Election will not only be measured by the declaration of a winner but by the credibility, transparency and peaceful nature of the entire process. The IGP, INEC and other security agencies have a historic opportunity to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy and set another benchmark for future elections.
The time to act is now.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst and publisher of Swift Reporters. Email: kennyadewole@gmail.com X: kennyadewole GSM: 08166240846