Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State, tight security has been beefed up at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akure, the state capital.
Our correspondent noticed that personnel from the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Army, Department of State Services, were heavily deployed at the INEC office to ensure peace and order.
The personnel were armed to the teeth and stationed at strategic areas and positions leading to the INEC state office, with roadblocks mounted at the main roads leading to the INEC headquarters.
Some of the security personnel were also seen with sniffer dogs moving in and around the premises of the INEC while moment persons coming into the office were searched at the gate and given tags of identity.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, disclosed that a total of 34,657 personnel had been deployed to various polling units, wards/LGA collation centres as well as other strategic locations in the state.
According to him, “It is expected that Four (4) Police personnel will be deployed at each polling unit, which then implies that 15,732 conventional police personnel will be required for the 3,933 polling units and voting points in the State.
“This will be complemented by the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Security Agencies and other sister Security Agencies. A total of 8,500 personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency will be deployed to augment the Police strength. This will bring the total number of security personnel deployed for the election to 43,157”, Egbetokun added.
Also, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of South West, Silvester Abiodun while briefing Journalists in Akure said conventional police officers and tactical elements of the Force comprising the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Explosive Ordinance unit (EOD-CBRT) and the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) are already on ground.
“These units will be supported by the operatives from the Force Criminal and Investigation Department (FCID), Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU) and the Intelligence Response Unit (IRT).
“A comprehensive threat analysis of the eight (8) Area Commands and fifty-four (54) Divisional Police Headquarters under Ondo State Police Command was undertaken to identify flash points and the attendant risks posed by individuals and groups before, during and after the election.”
He stressed that the force is resolutely committed to providing level playing ground for all contesting candidates irrespective of party affiliation or status and ensuring secured environment for successful and peaceful conduct of elections throughout the state.
“There will be close monitoring of collation of results at all levels and where necessary, promptly attend to any plan to tamper with results or any fraud affecting it”.
Also, the Deputy Commandant General in charge of operations, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ayuba Philips has warned all men and officers of the formation to distance themselves from any action that could undermine the Ondo governorship election.
He said any men or officers of the formation found culpable of any action seen to have compromised the process of the election would be dismissed from service.
Philips who stated this while addressing newsmen at the state headquarters of the formation in Akure, Ondo State capital on the preparedness of the formation for the election.
He assured electorates in Ondo State that the formation is fully ready to checkmate anyone planning to undermine the peaceful conduct of the November 16 off-circle gubernatorial election.
According to him, all the men and officers of the formation are fully prepared and those drawn from outside Ondo State have arrived for the poll.
Phillips said, “We want the people to trust us and also believe in us, that we shall give them the best and nothing but the best.
“However, let me just say, from the authority of the civil defense. We don’t condone any act of unprofessionalism from any of our officers and men.
“Anybody who decides to commit any atrocity, I think he is asking himself to be out of the system. We shall not leave anybody. Once you commit, you should know your way is out.”
Ayuba, however, called the electorate not to nurse any fear as a result of the presence of security agents, assuring them that they were only deployed to maintain peace to ensure the election is free, fair and credible.
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