The importance of violence free election is central to Nigeria’s democracy, and the 2019 general elections is a test for Nigeria democratic consolidation.
In effort to achieve a violence free election, and enhance elections security in Nigeria, CLEEN Foundation is collaborating with the Police Service Commission (PSC) to observe and monitor the Osun state governorship election that will be held by September this year.
The partnership seeks to monitor the conduct of security personnel in Osun State Gubernatorial Election, with a particular focus on the personnel of Nigeria Police Force.
At the meeting with the Police Service Commission (PSC), Mr. Benson Olugbuo, PhD, the Executive Director, CLEEN Foundation, said CLEEN decision to partner with the PSC has become inevitable considering the strategic position it occupies in ensuring police accountability. He explained that, from the Ekiti Election experience where vote buying was done in open, it has become important to sanction police officers who watch people trade votes without making arrest.
Mr. Rommy Mom, the Honourable Commissioner of Human Rights, representing civil society groups at the Police Service Commission, assured CLEEN of the commissions’ commitment to the partnership, the PSC is committed to reforming the Nigeria Police Force and would do all that is necessary to achieve that goal, he added.
The monitoring of the Osun State Governorship election by the PSC is not just for the sake of parade, but to make sure the police conduct itself in a professional manner on the Election Day, he said.
Mom urged the public to report a police officer that engages in a misconduct during the election with his name, identity number and the location of the incident. Officers caught engaging in misconduct during election will face a disciplinary action, but that must be done within fair hearing, Mom said.
CLEEN together with the Police Service Commission will review the existing checklists used in monitoring the conduct of security personnel and provide dedicated hotlines that will be made public for Nigerians to provide information about the conduct of security personnel on election duty.
CLEEN will collaborate with PSC to setup and manage a call centre Situation Room in Osun during the election. This is to facilitate prompt responses to complaints that might arise during the election.

Doyinsola Adeyemo, CLEEN Foundation