The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun says 22,239 officers will be deployed for the November 16 Ondo State Governorship election.
The IGP disclosed this on Thursday during the stakeholders meeting Organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Akure,Ondo State Capital.
Represented by Assistant Inspector General of Police, zone 17, Abiodun Oladimeji, the IGP justified the number of the officers deployed to the state to deliver adequate election security.
“Election, as we all know, is a crucial democratic process in which electorates have the opportunity to exercise their rights of franchise to choose their leaders by majority votes. Given the fact that the process of election leads to the emergence of leaders, the stakes are always very high as most contenders with their followers tend to deploy all means to ensure victory.
“In our clime, some contenders strategize to generate some heat in the polity thereby posing security threats. Regarding such threats, provision of security before during and after the process becomes an essential and concerted duty.
He said the Nigeria Police and other supporting security agencies responsible to provide security in the forthcoming election have a responsibility to solidly synergize and work as a formidable team to identify and nip in the bud, all security threats, provide water-tight security at the polling stations as well as all the public spaces within the state.
The IGP assured that the security of the voters, electoral officials and materials including the general public will be effectively provided before, during and after the election.
“This can be efficiently achieved by concerted covert and overt operations by the synergized security agencies assigned for the election duties, he added.
“In order to deliver adequate election security, the Nigeria Police, apart from additional manpower from sister agencies, is going to deploy a total of 22,239 officers for the exercise.
IGP Egbetokun advised the political parties, candidates and other stakeholders to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully, in line with global best practices of democracy.
“All stakeholders should eschew violence, avoid the do-or-die approach, should not employ thuggery and play the game according to the rules in the spirit of sportsmanship that will enable the loser to lose gallantly and the winner to be magnanimous in victory.
He affirmed that violators of electoral laws run the risk of diligent prosecution.
The Police boss further assured that Security agencies will leave no stone unturned in order to provide hitch-free and conducive atmosphere prior, during and the post-election security at the conclusion of the process. We shall ensure that the success recorded in the Edo Election will be improved upon.
In his remarks, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Prof Mamood Yakubu said sensitive election materials for the election will arrive in Akure by Tuesday, November 12.
He said all sensitive materials, including ballots and result sheets, would be delivered to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Akure branch by early next week.
According to Yakubu, the election materials will be inspected by political party representatives and other stakeholders to ensure transparency before being distributed to local governments and wards across the state.
He said INEC is committed to a well-organised and credible election process, noting that all logistical arrangements for the safe delivery and distribution of materials have been completed.
“We have arranged for the delivery of sensitive materials for the election to arrive as early as Tuesday next week.
“We will invite political parties and other stakeholders for the usual inspection of the materials at the Central Bank here in Akure, and throughout the movement of sensitive materials to the local governments and the ward centres,” he stated.
To support the timely deployment of these materials, Yakubu highlighted that INEC has arranged for both land and maritime transportation to reach all areas of Ondo State, ensuring access to polling units across the region.
We have made arrangements for land and maritime transportation of personnel and materials,” he noted.
INEC has also engaged security agencies to protect the sensitive materials and personnel involved in the election process.
With the countdown to election day in full swing, INEC has been conducting final preparations, including a mock accreditation of its Bimodal Voter Accreditation System in select locations across Ondo State.
Yakubu assured the public that INEC is ready to conduct a fair, secure, and transparent election
