The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has warned political parties, candidates and their supporters against engaging in violence, voter intimidation, ballot snatching and other electoral offences during Saturday’s Osun State governorship election, declaring that anyone found disrupting the poll will be arrested and prosecuted regardless of political affiliation or status.

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In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Ani Iniedu, the police said recurring election offences, including vote buying, clashes between rival supporters and obstruction of electoral officials, would not be tolerated. The Force also prohibited firearms, dangerous weapons and other offensive materials around polling units and collation centres, except those lawfully carried by accredited security personnel on official election duty. It warned that individuals involved in thuggery, unlawful possession of election materials, hate speech or incitement to violence would face prosecution.

The police further announced that only constitutionally recognised security agencies would provide election security, barring the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), vigilante groups, hunters’ associations, the Civilian Joint Task Force, neighbourhood watch groups and other non-state security outfits from participating in the exercise. According to the Force, such groups are prohibited from escorting election materials, guarding polling units, mounting checkpoints or carrying weapons in connection with the election. Political parties were equally warned against recruiting or deploying members of unauthorised security groups, stressing that both sponsors and participants would be arrested.

The Force disclosed that personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) would be deployed across all 30 local government areas of Osun State. The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, directed all officers on election duty to remain professional, impartial and respectful of the rule of law and human rights while ensuring voters, electoral officials, observers and journalists carry out their responsibilities without intimidation. The police also urged residents to report suspicious activities, assuring that adequate security measures had been put in place to guarantee a peaceful and credible election.