Adegoke Fayoade, the Deputy Inspector-General of Police for the South-West, has issued a stern warning to political figures in Osun State. He stated that the police and other security agencies will not permit lawlessness or violence as the 2026 gubernatorial race approaches. He specifically cautioned against the practice of shielding criminal elements.
During a stakeholders’ meeting at the Osun State Police Command headquarters in Osogbo, Fayoade instructed Police Commissioner Ibrahim Gotan to coordinate with the military and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to launch regular joint patrols. These high-visibility operations are intended to serve as a deterrent to those planning to disrupt public order.
The meeting included various stakeholders, such as the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and leaders from the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). While the All Progressives Congress (APC) attended, the Accord Party was noticeably absent.
Fayoade emphasized that security agencies are committed to replicating the peaceful election outcomes recently seen in Ekiti and Anambra. He identified current political tensions as a lingering effect of the 2022 elections, promising that law enforcement would act decisively against troublemakers regardless of their political ties. The DIG ordered these multi-agency patrols to continue throughout the weekends leading up to the election to signal that criminal activities will no longer be tolerated.
