Progress in Osun election policing, good omen for 2023 general elections – PSC

Tayo AFOLABI

The progress recorded in election policing in Osun was a good signal that the 2023 general elections would be better.

The Police Service Commission (PSC) stated this in a statement issued on Sunday by Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations of the commission.

Alhaji Musiliu Smith, the PSC Chairman, said the policing of the Osun governorship election was a huge improvement over the recent governorship election in Ekiti State.

He commended the policemen deployed to Osun state, for their brilliant performance at the July 16 governorship election.

Smith called on the Nigeria Police to sustain the momentum in future elections and pledged that the commission would continue to support them to ensure improved performance.

According to him, the commission would continue to reward officers who display exemplary performance in the discharge of their duties to serve as motivation for others.

The commission monitored policemen on election duties in the 30 local government areas of the state and rated their performance above average.

Officers arrived at the polling centres on time, were professional and orderly in their conduct, and had exhibited a high level of commitment to duty, he reported.

Meanwhile, the chairman said an average of three properly dressed policemen were deployed to each polling unit, adding that the officers

were firm and courteous to voters in spite of initial squabbles in a few polling units.

Smith noted that police and other security agencies were quick to restore peace and order in such polling units.

“The polling units were devoid of arms carrying security agencies in line with the requirements of the law. Both armed military men and special forces of the police mounted roadblocks and paraded the streets.

“PSC monitors across the state reported that there was no major violence recorded in most of the polling units visited,” he added.