The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has confirmed its preparedness to prevent any form of disruption during the upcoming governorship election in Ondo State, scheduled for Saturday.
In a statement on Friday, NPF spokesman ACP Muyiwa Adejobi outlined the security measures in place, revealing that officers have been deployed across all 18 local government areas, 203 wards, and 3,933 polling units in the state.
The NPF assured that at least four police officers, working alongside other security personnel, would be stationed at each polling unit to ensure a peaceful and orderly election process.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) Sylvester Alabi, who is overseeing security for the Ondo State elections, held a press briefing on Thursday at the Ondo State Police Command Headquarters in Akure. During the briefing, he assured officers and the press of the NPF’s readiness, in collaboration with other security agencies, to ensure a smooth election.
Seventeen political parties are fielding candidates in the election.
The statement read in part, “The DIG during his address mentioned that the Force had begun effective deployments of personnel across all 18 Local Government Areas, 203 Wards, and 3,933 Polling Units in the state, assuring the presence of at least four (4) Police Officers in collaboration with officers representing other election security agency, at each polling unit, to ensure a smooth poll.
“In a bid to emplace proactive measures against all forms of security threat and interference during the electoral process, the DIG emphasized the importance of Intelligence gathering and firmness.”
The NPF said these approaches are essential for upholding safety and security, as they assist in identifying and preventing electoral fraud, including vote-buying and manipulation.
“By leveraging intelligence gathering, the police can ensure a secure, free, and fair electoral process. To this end, the Force has carried out a comprehensive threat analysis and as well, deployed adequate personnel to areas identified as vulnerable points during the elections.”
The DIG further encouraged a collaborative effort between the Nigeria Police Force, other election security agencies and the electorates, reiterating the commitment of the Force to maintaining law and order across the state with adequate contingency plans to respond appropriately to issues that may arise before, during and after the election.”
He advised citizens to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2023, (as amended) and INEC guidelines, as well as all other extant laws of the land, as every electoral offender and troubles shooter would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly.”
INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials
The Independent National Electoral Commission has distributed sensitive materials, including ballot papers to the 18 local government areas in the state in a move to ensure the timely arrival of electoral materials at the polling booths.
The materials were distributed on Thursday from the Central Bank of Nigeria in Akure under the supervision of the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oluwatoyin Babalola.
Representatives of political parties, security agencies, and other key stakeholders witnessed the exercise.
“We are committed to transparency and are making every effort to ensure the voting process is as smooth as possible,” Babalola stated.
She also emphasised the logistical preparations made for riverine and remote areas of Ondo.
FRSC Deploys 1500 Personnel
As part of measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the election, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, has approved the deployment of 1,500 operatives, instructing them to work in collaboration with other security agencies to enforce vehicle movement restrictions.
In a statement issued by Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer of the FRSC, it was stated that Mohammed also tasked the personnel with clearing road obstructions, carrying out rescue operations in emergencies, and maintaining order at polling booths.
To strengthen the enforcement of these measures, the Corps Marshal confirmed the mobilisation of operational tools, including 25 patrol vehicles, 7 tow trucks, and 6 ambulances, all of which will be in place for the duration of the election.
The Corps Marshal reminded the deployed personnel to take an active role in ensuring the integrity of the democratic process. He stressed the importance of professionalism and urged them to avoid any actions that could infringe upon the rights of voters.