The Osun State Police Command has assured political actors and residents that adequate measures are being taken to ensure a peaceful and credible governorship election on August 15, 2026.
The assurance was given on Monday by the Commissioner of Police in charge of election duties, CP Samuel Etaifo, when he received a delegation of women led by the state’s First Lady, Titilola Adeleke, at the command headquarters in Osogbo.
The women had marched from the Lameco Area through the West Bypass to the police headquarters, where they presented a petition concerning alleged intimidation of voters and political actors ahead of the election.
The delegation included the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Ayobola Awolowo, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Market Affairs, Eniola Omotoso.
Presenting the petition, Adeleke called on the police to protect voters and political actors from intimidation during the election period.
She alleged that some leaders of the Accord were being targeted for arrest by opposition elements, while also raising concerns over the recent arrest of the Commissioner for Environment.
“From what we heard, we learnt that they will start picking our leaders up this week. Last Friday, they picked up the Commissioner for Environment,” Adeleke said.
She alleged that the commissioner was subjected to degrading treatment while in police custody, describing such treatment as unacceptable.
“This is not good enough. They should leave our people alone,” the First Lady said while urging the police to ensure that residents were allowed to participate freely in the electoral process.
Responding, Etaifo said the command had been working to maintain relative peace in the state and warned political actors against actions capable of increasing tension ahead of the poll.
“If you notice, since I came, we have relative peace in the state. But the problem we have is that we cannot continue to tolerate what you have done today because it will not contribute to peace; it will cause tension again,” he said.
The commissioner said his deployment followed a directive from the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, to stabilise Osun and provide a secure environment for all eligible voters and political actors.
“I have the mandate of the Inspector-General of Police to come to the state and stabilise things, give an enabling environment for every political actor to exercise their franchise, to create public confidence for everyone to come out to vote on election day,” Etaifo said.
He assured the delegation that the command would examine the issues raised in the petition and adjust its security strategy where necessary, adding, “We are going to go back and restrategise to attend to all your demands.”