The Police Service Commission (PSC) has deployed a high-powered monitoring team to Osun State ahead of Saturday’s governorship election.
The commission warned police personnel against misconduct, partisanship, and any actions that could undermine the credibility of the poll. It stressed that it would maintain zero tolerance for unprofessional conduct, insisting that officers must remain impartial and respectful of voters’ rights before, during, and after the election.
The monitoring delegation is led by retired Deputy Inspector-General of Police, DIG Taiwo Lakanu, a PSC member and Chairman of its Standing Committee on Police Matters. The team is tasked with monitoring the conduct of police personnel statewide to ensure strict compliance with the rules and guidelines governing election policing.
In a statement issued yesterday by PSC Head of Protocol and Public Relations, Torty Kalu, the Commission said the deployment was part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of the August 15 governorship election and boost public confidence in the process.
According to the statement, police officers on election duty must display exemplary conduct and remain apolitical. They are expected to protect citizens’ right to vote freely and peacefully while upholding professionalism, discipline, and respect for the rule of law.
The PSC emphasised that the police play a critical role in creating an atmosphere conducive to peaceful voting and in protecting electoral materials, officials, and citizens. It added that the monitoring team would pay close attention to compliance with established standards of conduct, warning that any officer found compromising the credibility of the election would face disciplinary action.
‘The commission reassures Nigerians that it will not hesitate to sanction any officer found compromising the credibility of the election,’ the statement read.
The warning comes amid heightened security and political activity in Osun ahead of the poll, with security agencies expected to maintain law and order while ensuring voters exercise their franchise without intimidation.
The PSC urged Nigerians to have confidence in the electoral process and assured the public that police conduct would be closely monitored throughout the election period.