THE Nigeria Police Force has intensified security preparations ahead of two major electoral exercises, declaring full readiness for Saturday’s Ekiti State governorship election while announcing a temporary restriction of movement across seven local government areas in Rivers State ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election.
NEWS POINT NIGERIA reports that police authorities say extensive security measures have been activated in both states to guarantee peaceful, orderly, free, fair and credible elections, with officers already deployed and operational plans fully implemented.
Speaking on Friday during a special edition of Politics Today on Channels Television, the Commissioner of Police in Charge of Election Security, Abayomi Shogunle, expressed confidence in the security arrangements put in place for the Ekiti governorship election.
Responding to questions on the level of preparedness for the poll, Shogunle said the police were fully ready and had completed all necessary planning ahead of the exercise.
“Well, I think from the explanation, from the layout of what we have put in place, at the end of the day, you’re going to agree with me that we are absolutely ready and we are good to go. And if you want me to start laying that out now, I can,” he said.
Shogunle explained that the security architecture for the election was built around a comprehensive operational order approved by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu.
According to him, the election security strategy is anchored on a multi-layered security approach designed to address all potential threats before, during and after the poll.
“We are ready in terms of strategic planning. When we are having an election, an operation like this, you start with an operational order. The operational order, which has been approved for this election by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, is anchored on the multi-layered security approach,” he stated.
The commissioner noted that the strategy had already been implemented over the last month through a series of pre-election clearance operations conducted in border communities and other strategic locations.
“Multi-layered security approach in the sense that we have designed all our deployments and all our activities around this security framework, which we have actually started implementing in the last one month through pre-election clearance operations, which we carried out at the bordering towns.
“You know, first we did a risk assessment, which now gave us a clear understanding of what the security situation in Ekiti is actually like,” he added.
While declining to disclose the exact number of officers deployed for the election, Shogunle assured residents that adequate personnel had been mobilised to guarantee a hitch-free exercise across the state’s 16 local government areas.
The Ekiti governorship election comes four years after Governor Biodun Oyebanji of the All Progressives Congress (APC) emerged victorious in the 2022 governorship poll. Fourteen candidates are contesting the election, with more than one million registered voters expected to participate.
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command has announced a temporary restriction on movement in seven local government areas ahead of the Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election scheduled for Saturday, June 20.
The affected local government areas are Andoni, Tai, Khana, Gokana, Eleme, Oyigbo and Opobo/Nkoro.
According to the command, the restriction will commence at midnight on Friday, June 19, and remain in force until 6:00 p.m. on election day.
The police said the measure forms part of comprehensive security arrangements aimed at ensuring a peaceful, orderly, free, fair and credible electoral process.
In a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Agabe Blessing Kaborlo, on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, the command explained that the restriction was intended to enhance public safety and safeguard the electoral process.
The police said the measure would help protect electoral officials and materials, prevent electoral malpractices and create a secure environment for voters to exercise their civic rights without fear, intimidation or harassment.
However, the restriction will not apply to accredited officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security personnel on election duty, ambulance and emergency service providers, fire service personnel and other duly authorised essential service providers.
The command warned that any individual or group found violating the restriction order or engaging in activities capable of disrupting the electoral process would face the full weight of the law.
The Rivers State Police Command specifically cautioned against electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery and other unlawful activities.
“The Command warns that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, engaging in acts capable of disrupting the electoral process or participating in any form of electoral violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation, thuggery or any other unlawful activity will be dealt with decisively in accordance with the law,” the statement said.
Commissioner of Police Olugbenga Adepoju called on political parties, candidates, supporters and residents of the affected local government areas to remain peaceful, law-abiding and cooperative with security agencies throughout the exercise.
He stressed that the success of the election depends on the collective commitment of all stakeholders to uphold the rule of law and promote a culture of peace.
Adepoju further reassured residents that robust security arrangements had been put in place in collaboration with other security and relevant agencies to safeguard lives and property, protect electoral materials and ensure a credible election.
The commissioner urged all eligible voters, political stakeholders, community leaders, youth groups and residents to conduct themselves responsibly throughout the electoral process.
The command also encouraged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities through its emergency contact channels.
Reaffirming its commitment to maintaining law and order, the Rivers State Police Command said every eligible voter must be able to exercise his or her constitutional right in a safe and secure environment.
“Together, let us uphold peace, respect the law, and make the Rivers South-East Senatorial District By-Election a model of democratic excellence,” the command stated.