Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a stern warning to officers deployed for election duty in Osun State, declaring that any personnel found aiding electoral malpractice or compromising the integrity of the August 15 governorship poll will be "punished publicly." The IGP gave the warning on Friday, August 7, 2026, during a briefing ahead of the election, as political tension continues to build in the state.
Disu, who expressed concerns over the activities of cult groups in Osun, alleged that political actors had exploited them as part of efforts to influence the electoral process. "We knew the Osun election would take this direction because of two major problems. We have mentioned a number of cases. I want you to know that we have cases of cultism in Osun, and the political parties took active actions to ensure that they proliferate the cult groups among themselves," he said.
Addressing officers deployed to the state, the police chief issued a stern warning against involvement in election rigging or any act capable of undermining the credibility of the poll. "Every police officer deployed to Osun State for the upcoming governorship election should carry out their duties diligently. Any officer who helps to rig the election or compromises the electoral process in Osun will be punished publicly," he declared.
The IGP reminded officers that their profession carried enormous responsibility and urged them not to sacrifice their careers for partisan interests. "I got complaints from those people to arrest. Do not take part in anything unlawful. Your jobs are precious to us. We have dependent families and children. We police officers are trying to ensure that we do what we are supposed to do," he said.
He added that the Nigeria Police Force had continued efforts to sanitise its ranks and would not shield erring officers from disciplinary action. "Last month, I mentioned the issue of ending impurity, but every member of the country will participate in ending the impurity of the police. We are not hiding police officers that misbehave, and Nigerian officers know the punishment for compromising," the IGP said.
His warning comes amid heightened concerns over the integrity of the governorship election following allegations of vote buying and voter intimidation. As earlier reported by SaharaReporters, residents of Osun State, mostly women, were allegedly paid ₦10,000 each and compelled to swear a Bible oath to vote for Governor Ademola Adeleke in the forthcoming election. In a viral video seen by SaharaReporters, the residents were seen receiving cash before being led through an oath allegedly coordinated by individuals identified as loyalists of Governor Adeleke. The women repeatedly pledged to vote for the incumbent governor while invoking biblical blessings upon themselves if they fulfilled the promise and curses if they failed to do so.
The development sparked fresh concerns over vote buying and electoral coercion just days before voters head to the polls in one of Nigeria's most closely watched off-cycle governorship elections. The election has also been overshadowed by recent controversy involving the freezing of the Osun State Government's bank accounts by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over an investigation into the alleged diversion of about ₦11 billion in public funds. On Thursday, President Bola Tinubu directed the EFCC to take immediate steps to vacate the court order freezing the state's accounts after stating that although the commission acted within its legal powers, the timing of the action could create the impression of political interference.
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