The Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba, has said arrests and prosecution of electoral offenders are a means of checking problems associated with elections in the country.
Abba also assured that the Nigeria Police will continue to play its part in sanitising the electoral imbalance in the state.
The Osun police boss gave this call during a courtesy call by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Mutiu Agboke and his team on Tuesday.
Commissioner of Police Umar Abba, who also assured that the Command will assist INEC in conducting a free and fair gubernatorial election in the state in 2026, added that the police have no other option than to ensure the electoral process is better.
His words: “We have no other option than to partner together to ensure that the electoral process in Osun is made better.
“This is not the first time of my relating with INEC. I conducted the 2023 election in Kano State. We have garnered quite a lot of experience, which I am sure will assist INEC in conducting free and fair elections in Osun State.
“This is the way to go. So long as electoral offenders are not punished, through arrests and prosecution, we will continue to have quite a lot of problems with electoral offences
“On our part, we will continue to cleanse the system, especially sanitising potential electoral imbalances here in the state. We have been arresting many of the perpetrators of electoral violence
“We will partner with you to ensure the system is cleaned. This is the only way we can deepen our democracy. I assure you, any time you need our assistance, we are willing and ready,” he stated.
Earlier in his address, the Osun INEC REC, Dr Agboke, called for a robust and friendly interaction between the Osun State Police Command and INEC.
Dr Agboke also sought collaboration with the police in the area of engaging with the political parties and their stakeholders to discourage vote buying and violence.
According to Agboke: “We also look forward to a robust interaction and brotherly relationship beyond the official capacity for elections to work.
“Elections have gone to the point where INEC wants the people to determine who wins the election. The stakeholders are not living within the current reality. They are still running after our staff and bothering the REC.”
While emphasising that electoral success called for collaboration between INEC and the Nigeria Police, the Osun INEC REC stated: “INEC can never achieve any success with the security support, especially from the Nigeria Police because it is the umbrella agency that coordinates election security.
“I want to also plead that as we create a level playing field and engage all the stakeholders, we will start visiting the political parties.”
He also expressed hope that by the time the election comes, the atmosphere will have been diffused of unnecessary tension and whoever runs afoul will face the wrath of the law.
Arresting, prosecuting electoral offenders will sanitise elections – Police