The Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, disclosed that 18,426 policemen would be deployed for Saturday’s governorship election in Osun State. The police, who made this known at a stakeholders forum held at the Atlantic event Centre, in Osogbo, the state capital, said: “Arrangements have been concluded to deploy over 18,426 police personnel including conventional and Police Mobile Force (PMF) units, intelligence and technical teams to provide security.
“This number excludes the support services to be provided by other security personnel from the Armed Forces, Immigration Service, Prisons, Customs and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to complement the efforts of the police.”
He also said that police officers deployed for the election have been lectured and educated on electoral conducts, behaviours, laws and offences, and are therefore expected to conduct themselves in a highly programs ethical manners. The IGP stressed also that four policemen would be deployed to each of the poling units in the state. Aside this, he said massive check points of police start a day to the election to ensure weapons are not conveyed to the state by political thugs and their principals.
He, however, preached against political violence, hate speeches, campaign of calumny and other undemocratic behaviours that could hinder the election. “Hate speeches, siren blowing and other distracting actions would not be tolerated,” he said, while charging the electorate to report any misconduct to police around them for appropriate action.
“Politicians and their supporters are advised to desist from actions that may precipitate violence before, during and after the election,” he cautioned, assuring all parties the election would be free and fair. Earlier, the chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the commission is partnering with security agencies to checkmate inducement of voters in the election and advised voters to resist any attempt by politicians to buy their votes. Assuring all the contenders of level playing field, he said: “Our ultimate objective is to ensure that the choice of who becomes the governor of Osun State is entirely in the hands of the voters. Our immediate response is to review the administration of our polling units to make it difficult for voters to expose their marked ballot papers between the voting cubicles where they vote in secret and the ballot box, where they cast their votes.
We are working with security and other law enforcement agencies for a solution to this brazen violation of several provision of the Electoral Act.” The INEC chairman announced the extension of collection of Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs) to Wednesday September 19, advising those who are yet to collect theirs to seize the opportunity of the extension do so.
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in his remarks, charged politicians, electorate and other stakeholders to ensure that the Osun State governorship election serves as a mirror for the 2019 general elections. The royal father, who maintained that no politician could be greater than the country, appealed to the youth not to allow themselves to be used as tools to destroy the greatness of the country through violence and undemocratic acts that could deter the electioneering process.
“We should pray for the oneness of the country. Security agents should do their job well; those in other careers should also play their parts well to make the country great. Put Nigeria first; realise that you all have children in the country, so play a pivotal role in building the nation. Let us all join hands to make the country great. Parents should talk to their children so as not to be used by desperate politicians to perpetrate electoral fraud,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
Source: New Telegraph