NEWS UPDATE

THE Commissioner of Police in charge of the Osun Governorship Election, CP Samuel Erale Etaifo, on Wednesday cautioned security personnel, INEC officials, politicians, electorates and the public against any act capable of compromising the conduct of the August 15 gubernatorial poll in the state.

He explained that his early redeployment followed mounting tension and violence in the state, which had culminated in attacks and killings in some parts.

According to him, anyone caught compromising a free and fair election, whether a police officer, political gladiator, or member of any political party, will be dealt with within the ambit of the law.

“Arrested violators of electoral laws will be moved straight to Abuja. No one arrested here in Osun during the course or after the election will be treated here. This is a federal election. Anybody arrested will be taken to Abuja. That’s the order,” Etaifo said.

Speaking during a session with police personnel deployed for the election at the Police Officers’ Mess in Osogbo, he disclosed that no fewer than 15,000 personnel had been deployed for the exercise.

“As I speak with you, the total number of officers that will come for this election will be nothing less than 15,000. This includes conventional policemen, specialists, dog section, medical, PMF. The DIG and AIG in charge of this operation are coming.

“I will be the CP in charge of the election. That is why the IGP has deployed me here. We were supposed to arrive here about four or five days before the election, but because of the heightened tension, the IGP said I should come early,” Etaifo said.