Governorship election: Osinbajo, Tinubu, governors set storm Osun for APC grand rally as IGP gives top Police officers

All roads will Tuesday morning lead to the Osogbo Township Stadium for the grand finale of the Osun All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign rally ahead of Saturday’s governorship election. 

Expected at this rally are party chieftains at the national level and across the 36 states of the federation, to be led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Spokesperson of the grand rally reception planning committee, Funke Egbemode, in a statement Monday said the rally is not just a gathering of party faithful but also of lovers of democracy and good governance, saying “those are the things Oyetola, the Osun APC governorship candidate, represents.”

The committee also assured that logistics to ensure hitch-free outing had been perfected.

“The Osun chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) invites party faithful and all lovers of democracy and good governance to the Grand Finale of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola’s re-election rally in Osogbo, the state capital,” the statement said.

She also said the rally which holds at the Osogbo Township Stadium Tuesday, would have in attendance top party leaders.

“Leaders and chieftains of the APC, including the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Prof Yemi Osibajo, members of the Central Working Committee, National Campaign Council, APC Governors and other national and regional structures of the Party are expected at the rally in support of Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, the party’s candidate in the Osun governorship election.

“We trust that members of the APC will show the formidable strength and decorum the party is known for, even as we implore all residents and citizens of Osun to come out en-masse and in public acclamation of their overwhelming support for the APC candidate,” the committee said.

IGP deploys DIG FCID, 4 AIGs, others

 Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police Usman Baba has ordered the deployment of Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Johnson Babatunde Kokumo to supervise next Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

This is as the police would be addressing stakeholders on the need for a peaceful conduct of the election Tuesday at a meeting in Osogbo, the state capital.

A press statement by Force Public Relations Office (FPRO) CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi in Abuja said, Kokumo, who is the supervisory DIG for the South-west geo-political zone, is to be assisted by four Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), four Commissioners of Police (CPs), 15 Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), and 30 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs).

The spokesperson further disclosed that adequate police personnel from the rank of Chief Superintendents of Police (CSPs) and below have equally been deployed for the election.

“DIG Kokumo is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Operation Order evolved from the Election Security Threat Assessment, to ensure a peaceful and conducive environment devoid of violence and to guarantee law abiding citizens in the state of a secured space to freely perform their civic responsibilities without molestation or intimidation.

“Other senior officers deployed are tasked with coordinating human and other operational deployments in the three Senatorial Districts, 30 Local Government Areas and the 3,753 polling units in Osun state.

“The IGP ordered deployment of the Commissioner of Police and Provost Marshall at the Force Headquarters, CP Julius Alawari to Osun state for the election, while CP Olokode Taoheed Olawale, the Osun state Commissioner of Police has been temporarily moved to the Force Headquarters until the conclusion of the election,” the statement read in part.

Adejobi further said: “The IGP, who is billed to meet with stakeholders in Osogbo on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, emphasized that these necessary operational deployments are part of actions aimed at creating a conducive and enabling environment that will guarantee peaceful and proper conduct of the Osun Gubernatorial election.

“The IGP further noted that the personnel, comprising conventional police officers, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Forces personnel, Explosives Ordinance Disposal Unit (EOD), Force Intelligence Bureau (FIB), INTERPOL, Special Protection Unit (SPU), Police Airwing, Public Relations Department (FPRD), as well as Police Medical Teams, will be on ground to guarantee free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

“In addition, five Armored Personnel Carriers for patrol as well as three helicopters and six Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for aerial surveillance amongst other unique operational assets were also deployed.  

“The IGP reassured the nation and the international community that the Force is satisfactorily prepared for the election.”