…NSA Must Enforce Presidential Directive
The Imole Campaign Council has urged the police and other security agencies to ensure neutrality, professionalism and maximum protection of voters during Saturday’s Osun State governorship election.
The council made the call while welcoming President Bola Tinubu’s directive to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and other security chiefs to provide adequate security at polling units and protect voters during the election.
It also welcomed the President’s directive to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a “transparent, free and fair” election.
The campaign council, however, said the presidential directive on security neutrality needed to be emphasised, alleging that the police had not demonstrated sufficient professional neutrality in the discharge of their responsibilities in recent months.
It called on the police to comply fully with the President’s directive and perform their duties impartially, while urging the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure its enforcement.
“Police officers must not pay lip service to this presidential directive. Voters must be protected. Polling units must be guarded. Troublemakers must be arrested regardless of party affiliation,” the council said.
The council stressed that votes must count, describing this as essential to the democratic process, while warning that intimidation should have no place in the electoral space.
It consequently urged the people of Osun State to come out and vote for their preferred candidates, while specifically asking voters to support Governor Ademola Adeleke, whom it said had demonstrated capacity and empathy during his four years in office.