The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba said 21,000 police officers would be deployed for the Osun July 16 governorship election.
Baba stated this in Osogbo at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Osun 2022 Governorship Election Stakeholders’ Meeting.
The Police Boss stressed that the deployment was not to intimidate residents but to prevent miscreants from disrupting the election process Saying, the deployed officers would provide security, and protect the electorate, INEC personnel, and materials before, during, and after the election.
The Inspector-General of Police said that the officers deployed had already been trained to know the rules of engagement, adding that the police remained apolitical and they were to ensure free, fair, and credible elections.
In his address, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, INEC National Chairman, said the commission was fully ready to conduct the Osun election.
According to him,” the election materials have already been deployed to all the state INEC local government area offices”
Yakubu said sensitive materials would be delivered to the wards 24 hours before the election and the Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) collection would continue until Thursday, July 14, two days before the governorship election.
Giving the records on PVC collection in the state, Mahmood added that out of the 1,955,657 registered voters in Osun, 1,479,959 voters collected their PVCs as of Sunday
He said INEC would also be setting a record as Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) would also be deployed as ad hoc staff selected from NYSC corps members for the election, asking the electorate to cooperate and protect them.
The INEC boss said that five INEC National Commissioners, 12 Resident Electoral Commissioners, and other senior INEC officers would be in the state to support the Osun office to deliver a credible, free, fair, and conclusive election.
NAN