Osun Poll: Adeleke Campaign Warns Police, ‘Obey Tinubu, Protect Voters’

The Imole Campaign Council has called on security agencies deployed for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to adhere strictly to President Bola Tinubu’s directive on neutrality, professionalism and the protection of voters.

According to Ireporter Online, the campaign council made the appeal in a statement issued by its spokesperson, Pelumi Olajengbesi, following the President’s call for the police and other security agencies to ensure adequate protection at polling units during the election.

The council said Tinubu had directed Inspector-General of Police Tunji Disu and other heads of security agencies participating in the election to provide maximum security and safeguard voters and electoral officials.

It also noted that the President had urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that the election was transparent, free and fair.

While welcoming the directives, the Imole Campaign Council argued that they needed to be reinforced, particularly within the police, which it accused of failing to demonstrate sufficient professional neutrality in recent months.

The council urged security personnel to carry out their responsibilities without favouring any political party or candidate and called on National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to ensure that the presidential directive was effectively implemented.

It further demanded adequate security at polling units, insisting that individuals attempting to disrupt the electoral process should be arrested irrespective of their political affiliation.

The campaign council stressed that voters must be protected from intimidation and that the outcome of the election should reflect the choices freely made by the people.

It also encouraged residents of Osun State to come out and participate in the election, urging them to vote for Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom the council credited with demonstrating what it described as capacity and empathy during his administration.