According to Mr. Usman Alkali Baba, the Inspector General of Police, 21,000 police officers would be on duty for the Osun governorship election on July 16.
At the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Osun 2022 Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Meeting in Osogbo, Alkali Baba made this statement.
The deployment, according to the IGP, was made to stop criminals from hijacking or interfering with the electoral process rather than to frighten locals.
Before, during, and after the election, the officers, according to him, would provide security, safeguard the electorate, INEC staff, and supplies.
He added that the police remained apolitical and that their duty was to ensure free, credible, and fair elections and that the officers who had been deployed had already been educated and made aware of the rules of engagement.
INEC National Chairman Prof. Mahmood Yakubu stated in his speech that the organization was completely prepared to handle the Osun poll.
He claims that all of the state INEC local government area offices have already received the election materials.
The Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) collection would continue through Thursday, July 14, two days before the governorship poll, according to Yakubu, who also stated that sensitive materials would be handed to the wards 24 hours before the election.
Mahmood provided information on PVC collection in the state and said that, as of Sunday, July 10, INEC records, 1,479,959 of Osun’s 1,955,657 registered voters have obtained their PVCs.
He urged the electorate to support and defend the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) who would be deployed as ad hoc staff members for the election, marking another record for INEC.
He declared that 12 Resident Electoral Commissioners, five National Commissioners, and other top INEC officials would be present in the state to assist the Osun office in conducting a credible, transparent, and successful election.
