Osun State is on heightened security alert as more than 1.9 million registered voters prepare to participate in Saturday’s governorship election, with security agencies deploying over 25,000 personnel in a coordinated effort to prevent violence, protect electoral materials and ensure a peaceful voting process.

The election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, will be conducted across the state’s 30 local government areas, 332 wards and more than 3,700 polling units.

At the centre of the security operation is the Nigeria Police Force, which has deployed more than 15,000 personnel for the election under the coordination of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

The police deployment includes 30 Commissioners of Police, with each Commissioner assigned responsibility for one of the state’s 30 local government areas. Each is supported by senior police officers, including Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Mobile Police commanders.

Armed Mobile Police units have also been deployed across the local government areas, while additional units are stationed around the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Osogbo to provide rapid response and protect sensitive electoral materials.

The police have further deployed specialised protection units, aerial surveillance assets, including helicopters and drones, as well as intelligence operatives to monitor potential threats before and during voting.

The security strategy is based on a combination of visible policing, intelligence gathering and risk-based deployment, with authorities seeking to prevent violence rather than merely respond to incidents after they occur.

The wider operation involves the police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Federal Road Safety Corps and other statutory agencies.

The Federal Road Safety Corps has also deployed about 2,500 personnel and 50 operational vehicles to support the election. The deployment includes personnel from Osun and neighbouring states, with the corps assigned responsibilities ranging from traffic management and emergency response to road clearance and enforcement of the movement restriction.

The FRSC deployment includes heavy-duty tow trucks and ambulances to respond to emergencies and remove vehicles that could obstruct major routes during the election.

While security preparations intensify, electoral authorities say more than 1.9 million registered voters are eligible to participate based on PVC collection figures.

Osun has a total of 2,339,233 registered voters, of whom 1,906,390, representing 81.50 per cent, have collected their Permanent Voter Cards. A total of 432,843 registered voters, representing 18.50 per cent, have not collected their PVCs.

The figures mean that approximately 1.91 million voters have collected their PVCs ahead of the election.

INEC has also reported that 6,101 voters printed downloadable replacements for damaged, lost or defaced PVCs ahead of the poll, while uncollected PVCs were deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria in accordance with the electoral arrangements.

The Continuous Voter Registration exercise has already closed ahead of the election, meaning that those who were not registered within the stipulated period cannot newly register to vote in Saturday’s election.

For voters who have completed the necessary requirements, the focus now shifts to the polling units, where the credibility of the election will ultimately be tested.

Security authorities are expected to maintain a visible presence around polling locations while ensuring that voters are not intimidated or prevented from exercising their franchise.

The police have also provided dedicated communication channels through which members of the public can report emergencies, suspected electoral misconduct or other security concerns.

The election hotlines include 08139235585 for the DIG Election, 08134277587 for the Commissioner of Police Election, 08108756818 for the control room, and 08057000001, 08057000002 and 08057000003 for misconduct complaints.

Authorities have urged voters and political actors to avoid violence, confrontation and any action capable of disrupting the electoral process.

Voters have also been advised to go to their designated polling units, present their valid PVCs, follow the instructions of authorised INEC officials and security personnel, and report incidents through official channels rather than taking the law into their own hands.

The deployment of more than 25,000 personnel across the various security and emergency agencies underscores the seriousness with which authorities are approaching the election.

With the political contest reaching its climax, the attention of the state and the wider country is now fixed on Saturday’s poll and whether the extensive preparations will deliver a peaceful, orderly and credible election.

For the millions of registered voters who have completed the requirements to participate, the immediate message from the authorities is straightforward: remain peaceful, exercise your right to vote and allow the people of Osun State to determine their next governor through the ballot.

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Shola Akinyele

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The election, scheduled for Saturday, August 15, will be conducted across the state’s 30 local government areas, 332 wards and more than 3,700 polling units.

At the centre of the security operation is the Nigeria Police Force, which has deployed more than 15,000 personnel for the election under the coordination of a Deputy Inspector-General of Police.

The police deployment includes 30 Commissioners of Police, with each Commissioner assigned responsibility for one of the state’s 30 local government areas. Each is supported by senior police officers, including Deputy Commissioners, Assistant Commissioners and Mobile Police commanders.

Armed Mobile Police units have also been deployed across the local government areas, while additional units are stationed around the Independent National Electoral Commission headquarters in Osogbo to provide rapid response and protect sensitive electoral materials.

The police have further deployed specialised protection units, aerial surveillance assets, including helicopters and drones, as well as intelligence operatives to monitor potential threats before and during voting.

The security strategy is based on a combination of visible policing, intelligence gathering and risk-based deployment, with authorities seeking to prevent violence rather than merely respond to incidents after they occur.

The wider operation involves the police, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Department of State Services, Federal Road Safety Corps and other statutory agencies.

The FRSC deployment includes heavy-duty tow trucks and ambulances to respond to emergencies and remove vehicles that could obstruct major routes during the election.

While security preparations intensify, electoral authorities say more than 1.9 million registered voters are eligible to participate based on PVC collection figures.

Osun has a total of 2,339,233 registered voters, of whom 1,906,390, representing 81.50 per cent, have collected their Permanent Voter Cards. A total of 432,843 registered voters, representing 18.50 per cent, have not collected their PVCs.

The figures mean that approximately 1.91 million voters have collected their PVCs ahead of the election.

INEC has also reported that 6,101 voters printed downloadable replacements for damaged, lost or defaced PVCs ahead of the poll, while uncollected PVCs were deposited with the Central Bank of Nigeria in accordance with the electoral arrangements.

The Continuous Voter Registration exercise has already closed ahead of the election, meaning that those who were not registered within the stipulated period cannot newly register to vote in Saturday’s election.

For voters who have completed the necessary requirements, the focus now shifts to the polling units, where the credibility of the election will ultimately be tested.

Security authorities are expected to maintain a visible presence around polling locations while ensuring that voters are not intimidated or prevented from exercising their franchise.

The police have also provided dedicated communication channels through which members of the public can report emergencies, suspected electoral misconduct or other security concerns.

The election hotlines include 08139235585 for the DIG Election, 08134277587 for the Commissioner of Police Election, 08108756818 for the control room, and 08057000001, 08057000002 and 08057000003 for misconduct complaints.

Authorities have urged voters and political actors to avoid violence, confrontation and any action capable of disrupting the electoral process.

Voters have also been advised to go to their designated polling units, present their valid PVCs, follow the instructions of authorised INEC officials and security personnel, and report incidents through official channels rather than taking the law into their own hands.

The deployment of more than 25,000 personnel across the various security and emergency agencies underscores the seriousness with which authorities are approaching the election.

With the political contest reaching its climax, the attention of the state and the wider country is now fixed on Saturday’s poll and whether the extensive preparations will deliver a peaceful, orderly and credible election.

For the millions of registered voters who have completed the requirements to participate, the immediate message from the authorities is straightforward: remain peaceful, exercise your right to vote and allow the people of Osun State to determine their next governor through the ballot.

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