OSUN DECIDES: IGP Orders Massive Deployment of 15,000 Police Officers Ahead of Saturday’s Governorship Polls
Ayekooto Media News Desk
OSOGBO— Barely 48 hours to the highly anticipated off-cycle Osun State governorship election scheduled for this Saturday, August 15, the security architecture of the state has been heavily fortified, with the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tunji Disu, deploying a staggering 15,000 personnel to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
The massive deployment comes on the heels of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s declaration of Friday as a work-free day, an action designed to allow civil servants ample time to travel and prepare for the civic exercise.
The Security Architecture: Dogs, Drones, and Tactical Squads
Investigations by 'Ayekooto Media' reveal that the sheer volume of the deployment is designed to immediately neutralise any threat of political thuggery, cross-border banditry, and voter intimidation before, during, and after the polls.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of the election security, Samuel Erale Etaifo, confirmed that the 15,000-man force is not just made up of conventional police officers. The robust operational strategy includes elite tactical units, the Police Mobile Force (PMF), specialized medical personnel, and the canine (dog) section.
CP Etaifo issued a stern warning to political actors and rogue elements across the 30 Local Government Areas, stating categorically that anyone arrested for violating electoral laws or instigating violence will bypass local stations and be transferred directly to the Force Headquarters in Abuja for immediate prosecution.
Neutrality and High-Risk Local Governments
In a bid to assure the public of their impartiality, the police leadership has firmly instructed all deployed personnel to maintain strict political neutrality, uphold the rule of law, and resist any form of electoral malpractice.
This reassurance of neutrality is crucial following recent alarms raised by independent election monitoring networks. The Coalition for Democratic Integrity and Civic Rights (CDICR) recently identified 13 of Osun’s 30 local governments—including flashpoints in Osogbo, Ifelodun, and Oriade—as high-risk areas prone to political friction and localized clashes. The coalition had previously called for intelligence-led security deployments in these volatile zones to protect voters and sensitive INEC materials.
A Coordinated Synergy with INEC
To further solidify election security, the newly deployed Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Osun State, Barr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin, recently visited the State Police Command, seeking robust synergy. The collaborative effort between the Nigeria Police Force and INEC is expected to guarantee the secure distribution of election materials, especially to remote rural wards, and ensure the safety of over a million expected voters.
As the heavy security convoys roll into Osogbo and branch out into the various local government headquarters this morning, residents of Osun State have been urged to go about their lawful businesses without fear and to come out en masse on Saturday to exercise their franchise.
'Ayekooto Media is on ground and will continue to provide minute-by-minute updates as Osun Decides 2026 unfolds.'
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David Alani Ige (The Scribe)
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Ayekooto MediaDavid Alani Ige is a seasoned journalist, strategic analyst, and the visionary publisher of Ayekooto Media. With a relentless commitment to archiving Nigeria's political realities and delivering the unvarnished truth, he has built a formidable platform for deep-dive reportage and editorial excellence. He is widely known by his readers and peers as "The Scribe".


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