September 21 Edo governorship election : IGP deploys 35,000 personnel, 8,000 others, bans vigilante corps
Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun has said that 35000 police personnel to be complemented by another 8,000 personnel from other security agencies would be deployed in the Edo state governorship election holding September 21, 2024.
Speaking Wednesday at a stakeholders meeting in Benin City, Edo state, Egbetokun also ordered that all local security outfits in the state remained suspended.
He said the management of election security was solely the responsibility of the Nigerian Police Force and other national security agencies within the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The police chief therefore cautioned individuals or groups against engaging in any unauthorised security functions, threatening to arrest and prosecute violators.
“In this election, the police will be deploying 35,000 personnel and this will be complemented by over 8,000 members of the armed forces and other security agencies.
“The security forces will not tolerate any form of political thuggery, violence or hooliganism. Any attempt to undermine the electoral process will be met with swift and decisive action.
“Moreover, I want to emphasise that the management of elections security is solely the responsibility of the Nigerian Police Force and other national security agencies within ICCES.
“This responsibility does not extend to local security entities or non-state actors. I hereby direct all local security apparatus within Edo state to refrain from interfering with election security functions.
“Any individual or group engaging in unauthorised security functions will face immediate arrest and prosecution. In this regard, the activities of Edo state Security Corps which has been suspended, remains suspended until further notice,” he said.
“Movements of persons and vehicles will be restricted from 6am to 6pm on the day of the election. All orderlies and escorts to VIPs are withdrawn on the eve of the election with alternative security arrangement provided for.
“As in the past elections, the police are lead security agency, supported by other national security agencies who will join us in ensuring the safety and security of the electoral process.
“Demonstrating our collective commitment to peaceful and credible election, we understand the vital importance of our roles and I want to assure you that we are well prepared to perform our duties with excellence.
“We will safeguard the electoral process by ensuring the safety of personnel and property including equipment that would be deployed in this election.
“We will ensure strict compliance and enforcement of the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, the Electoral Act, the Police Act 2020, the Criminal/Penal Code, among others.
“We will provide conducive environment for the peaceful conduct of credible elections. Our approach to election security is grafted in the principles of neutrality, professionalism and enforcement of human rights,” the IGP assured.
…INEC
Also speaking, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, assured that sensitive materials for the election would arrive the state next week and warehoused in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
He said: “On the part of INEC, active preparations for the election started last year with the release of the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the election as required by law.
“Overall, 13 statutory activities were listed beginning with the publication of the Notice of Election and ending with the Election Day. This document has been widely publicised and as a reminder, we have included it in the information booklet circulated at this meeting.
“As you can see from the timetable for the election, the commission has so far implemented 11 out of the 13 activities on schedule. As at today, we have only two outstanding activities. These are the last day of campaign by political parties which, according to law, ends 24 hours before the date fixed for the elections i.e. at midnight on Thursday 19th September 2024 and Election Day on Saturday 21st September 2024.”
