The Imole Campaign Council has urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies deployed for Saturday’s Osun State governorship election to remain neutral, professional and committed to protecting voters and the integrity of the electoral process.

The council’s spokesman, Pelumi Olajengbesi, made the call in a statement issued on Friday in Osogbo, while welcoming President Bola Tinubu’s directive to security agencies to provide maximum security at polling units and protect voters during the election.

Olajengbesi said the President’s directive to the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, and other heads of security agencies participating in the election must be strictly obeyed.

He also noted that Tinubu had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct a transparent, free and fair election.

According to him, the presidential directive requires particular emphasis because of what the campaign council described as the failure of the police to demonstrate professional neutrality in recent months.

“The Imole Campaign Council calls on the police to obey the presidential order and discharge their duties dispassionately on Saturday,” he said.

The council also called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to ensure compliance with the directive, stressing that security personnel must protect voters and guard polling units against threats and intimidation.

It further urged security agencies to arrest anyone found causing trouble, irrespective of political affiliation, insisting that the votes of the people must count.

“Ultimately, votes must count. This is the beauty of democracy. Intimidation of any kind must have no place in our electoral space,” the statement added.

The campaign council, however, urged residents of Osun State to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise and vote for their preferred candidates.

It specifically appealed to voters to support the incumbent governor and Accord Party candidate, Ademola Adeleke, whom it described as a leader who had demonstrated capacity and empathy during his first term.