Osun Will Test Whether the Police can Remain the Referee

Nigeria has a unique relationship with election security. The police are tasked with preventing political conflict, yet they are accused of favoring one side during elections. The true test will come in Osun, as both sides must be able to claim that the police acted impartially. IGP Olatunji Disu has been working to ensure the police remain referees rather than participants.

He met with the governor, political parties, traditional rulers, NANS, and other stakeholders to set expectations. His approach emphasizes intelligence gathering, warning political actors, and identifying potential flashpoints before voting begins. Disu's interactions with young people are crucial, as they often become activists in politically charged environments.

The IGP's willingness to publicly criticize powerful figures, even those in the government, demonstrates his commitment to neutrality. The police have also introduced an Electoral Commissioner of Police to oversee the election process. This move could be seen as an admission of the police's declining credibility or a proactive step to ensure impartiality.

Regardless, it signals the police leadership's understanding that the perception of neutrality is essential. The police have also elevated senior officers to key roles in the election command structure, ensuring swift, consistent, and unencumbered decision-making. In a particularly noteworthy case, the police invited Senator Francis Fadahunsi, an APC member, who made remarks interpreted as a threat against his political opponents, for questioning within 24 hours.

Fadahunsi later clarified that he meant "killing votes," not people. This demonstrates that political affiliation does not grant immunity from scrutiny, further reinforcing the police's commitment to neutrality. For Osun to truly test the police's ability to remain impartial, voters must be protected regardless of their political allegiance.

Parties should be treated equally, and violent actors must be pursued irrespective of their political connections. The police must remain restrained and professional, even when the pressure is at its highest. When the results are announced, the losing side should be able to acknowledge that the police carried out their duties fairly.

Ultimately, the police's role is to create the conditions in which whoever wins can credibly claim they won the support of the voters, not the police themselves.