AHEAD of Saturday’s governorship election in Edo State, the first batch of the 35,000 police officers deployed to ensure law and order during election has arrived in the state.
Also in the state are soldiers and officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission as moves intensify to ensure a hitch-free poll.
Seventeen political parties presented candidates for the poll but the All Progressives Congress candidate Senator Monday Okpebholo, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party and Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party are the leading contenders ahead of the ballot.
The Defence Headquarters said the deployment of soldiers was meant to guarantee a safe environment for the electorate during the election.
Speaking in an interview, the Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Edward Buba, said the military would take steps to ensure the election was devoid of violence.
He said, “During elections troops are required to provide security in order to encourage high voter turnout as well as ensure the safety of voters. The forthcoming election in Edo will not be an exception. The military is resolute on taking steps to ensure a hitch-free election in Edo State.”
On Tuesday, armed soldiers were visible on the streets of Benin City, the state capital. An army truck with soldiers patrolled the Government Reservation Road, Ring Road and Akpakpava Road axis, apparently to announce their presence in the state.
The military presence has raised concerns after a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled in 2015 that the Nigerian Armed Forces had no role in the conduct of elections in the country.
The court relied on a Court of Appeal ruling that barred the use of soldiers in the conduct of elections, stating that it was a violation of Section 217(2)(c) of the Constitution and Section 1 of the Armed Forces Act.
Security expert, Taofik Onigbanjo, said the presence of the military personnel would deter thugs and miscreants from planning to foment trouble on or before Election Day but cautioned against using the soldiers to intimidate the state residents.
“The military presence is good to discourage those who are may want to cause trouble on before the election. I have seen the soldiers in several areas in town and their presence will be good for the smooth conduct of the election,” Onigbanjo said.
“However, the election should not be too militarised so that it will not appear like voters, party leaders and others are being intimidated because this can put a question mark on the credibility of the election.”
In a similar move, the first batch of the 35,000 police officers deployed for the election by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, arrived in the Edo State capital on Tuesday.
Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, Moses Yamu, told this newspaper that the Deputy Inspector-General that would supervise security for the election was being expected.