The Police Are Right to Ban Amotekun, Vigilantes from Osun Election Security

The Osun State Police Command is right to bar Amotekun, vigilante groups, neighbourhood watch outfits and other unauthorised security bodies from participating in security operations during the August 15, 2026 governorship election.

The directive, reportedly issued by the Police Zone 11 Headquarters in Osogbo, is an important step towards ensuring that election security is coordinated, professional and accountable.

Elections are too sensitive to be left to a mixture of security outfits operating under different commands, rules and levels of accountability. When several groups with varying mandates are deployed for election security, the possibility of confusion, intimidation, abuse of power or conflicting orders becomes higher.

The police and other constitutionally recognised security agencies have clearly defined responsibilities. They are trained and legally empowered to maintain public order, protect voters and electoral officials, and respond to security threats during elections.

This does not mean that Amotekun, vigilante groups or neighbourhood watch organisations have no role to play in society. They may have important functions in community security and intelligence gathering within the limits of the law. However, election-day security is a different responsibility and requires a clearly defined chain of command.

The priority on August 15 should be the protection of voters, electoral officials, election materials and the integrity of the electoral process.

Every voter should be able to walk into a polling unit without fear of harassment, intimidation or partisan interference. Every security officer deployed to the election must also understand that his or her duty is to protect the process, not to favour any political party or candidate.

The police directive should therefore be seen not as an attack on community-based security organisations, but as an attempt to establish order and ensure that only properly authorised and constitutionally recognised security agencies take charge of election security.

What matters now is enforcement.

The police must remain professional, neutral and transparent throughout the election. They must also ensure that their officers do not abuse the authority entrusted to them.

If the goal is a peaceful, credible and orderly election, then having one clear and accountable security structure is the right approach.

The police are right. Election security should not be a free-for-all.