I’m Satisfied With Osun Election Security Arrangement – IGP Idris

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – In spite of wide spread condemnations of the ignoble role allegedly played by the police and other security agencies during the conduct of the Osun State governorship rerun elections, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim K. Idris, has expressed satisfaction with the implementation of the security arrangement for the election.

Accordingly, IGP Idris commended the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Department of Operations, the entire Police Personnel, officers and men of other Security and Safety Agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) deployed for the Osun election on Saturday, September 22 and the rerun election of Thursday, September 27, 2018

The police boss said there were no official complaints of violence or injury to persons reported at any Police Station/Division in all the Seven Units where the re-run election was held on September 27, 2018.
He therefore urged members of the public to disregard and discountenance claims in some sections of the media that security agencies intimidated journalists, Election Observers and voters during the re-run election
The IGP said; “The Nigeria Police Force appreciates the law abiding attitude and peaceful conduct of the good people of Osun State during the Election.”
 
A statement by the Force Public Relations officer, Acting DCP Jimoh Moshood said the IGP also commended the commitment and civility of the entire security personnel in ensuring adequate security and conducive environment for a credible governorship election in Osun State.
Moshood also said that Idris extoled the high level professionalism, politeness, firmness and unbiased conducts of the police personnel, before, during and after the election, adding that the police equally appreciates the law abiding attitude and peaceful conduct of the good people of Osun State, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Election Monitors/Observers, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Media and other critical stakeholders for a good working relationship with the security personnel deployed for the election.

According to him; “The good disposition and spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by most of the political parties in the election which doused fear and tensions during the election is gratifying and highly commendable. 
“As a lead security agency in election security in a democracy, the IGP further commends the entire security personnel deployed for the election for their personal sacrifice, collective patriotism and commitment in ensuring that the election was conducted in an atmosphere of peace devoid of any breach of public peace and security throughout the period of the election, the Commissioners of Police and their personnel in the states contiguous to Osun State who were placed on Red Alert by the Inspector General of Police are equally appreciated.”
 
IGP Idris further said that the impressive performance of the police personnel to ensure law and order and a successful election is a clear testimony of the capability of the Nigeria Police Force in its renewed commitment to continue to adhere to international best practices in the conduct of elections in the country.
 
In his words; “It is imperative to state that, there was no any Election Observer, Journalist or Electorate arrested, detained or prevented from carrying out their statutory civic responsibilities/duties during the period of the Election.

“There were also no official complaints of violence or injury to persons reported by any individual(s)/group at any Police Station/Division in all the Seven (7) Units where the re-run election were held on 27thSeptember, 2018.

“However, any member of the public with any complain now should do so at the nearest Police Station for immediate investigation. The Nigeria Police Force will continue to sustain and improve on the election security successes recorded in the governorship elections in Edo, Ondo, Anambra, Ekiti States and the just concluded Osun State election as an index for the conduct of subsequent elections in the country.”