The Police Service Commission (PSC) has deployed Staff Monitors to the 30 Local Government Areas of Osun State to monitor the conduct of police officers during the state governorship election slated for Saturday.

This was made known via a statement issued and made available to The Star on Thursday by the PSC spokesman, Ikechukwu Ani.

Ani stated that the commission will also monitor the election at the Situation Room of the Civil Society Organizations and the Security Control Room at the Police State Command Headquarters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

According to him, the first batch of the commission’s delegation arrived Osun State on Tuesday, July 12, while the second batch is expected in the various Local Government Areas on Thursday (today).

“Commission Chairman Alhaji Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police, urged Police Officers involved in the security of the elections to beat the record set during the recently held Ekiti governorship election that was widely adjudged to be free and fair.

“Alhaji Smith called for greater commitment from the police so that the Osun election will signpost a bright future for election policing especially as the nation counts down to the 2023 general election.

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“He advised the staff of the commission to strive to also maintain a high level of commitment adding that the commission will not hesitate to punish any staff found wanting during the national assignment.

“The police officers he admonished, should work professionally and avoid all partisan tendencies during the elections.

“The commission has already released dedicated telephone numbers for interested Nigerians to call to complain of any infraction or commend exemplary conduct of police officers during the election. The numbers are: 08055606514; 08033345362; 07037158656,” Ani added.

The PSC spokesperson further stated that the commission “believes that the success of elections in the country hugely depends on the ability of the police to maintain law and order during such elections where every Nigerian will have an unhindered opportunity to exercise his or her democratic rights to vote and be voted for and for such votes to count.

“The commission is determined to ensure that this is entrenched in the country through these deliberate efforts to ensure the police, the lead agency in internal security, including election security, operates within established rules and regulations,” he stated.

The Star