Ahead of Saturday’s by-elections in parts of Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has deployed senior officers to guarantee a smooth and secure process.
Officers of the rank of Assistant Inspector-General of Police and Commissioners of Police will work alongside state commissioners in the affected areas. Additional personnel from the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department, and other tactical units have also been assigned.
The deployment covers Jigawa, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Adamawa, Anambra, Kaduna, Kano, Taraba, Kogi, Niger, Enugu, and Zamfara states.
A statement by Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Ogunjobi, said the IGP had directed the provision of operational logistics and strict supervision to ensure free and fair polls.
The police will restrict vehicular movement in affected local government areas from midnight to 6 pm on election day, except for essential services such as INEC staff, accredited journalists, election observers, medical responders, and firefighters.
Egbetokun reaffirmed that security aides to VIPs and escorts are banned from accompanying principals to polling or collation centres. He also prohibited state security outfits, quasi-security groups, and private guards from participating in election security operations.
The IGP urged officers to follow the Nigeria Police Force’s standard election protocols and called on citizens to remain law-abiding. He assured that security measures were in place to protect voters’ rights.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed that the polls would take place in 16 constituencies across 12 states, including two senatorial districts, five federal constituencies, and nine state constituencies. Some contests are re-runs ordered by the courts, while others follow resignations or deaths of legislators.
INEC added that all non-sensitive materials have been delivered, the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) is configured, and ad hoc staff recruitment and training are complete. Sensitive materials will arrive by Friday, while campaigns end at midnight on Thursday.