AHEAD of the Ondo State governorship election, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has assured Ondo residents of extensive security deployments and strict enforcement measures to ensure peace across the state on November 16.
In a statement released on November 10, Egbetokun outlined the deployment of police personnel and specialised units to all 18 local government areas, 203 wards, and 3,933 polling units in Ondo State.
In addition to on-ground officers, the IGP said the police would deploy helicopters for aerial patrols and gunboats to monitor waterways, enhancing security coverage across all terrains.
He also warned political thugs and any individuals aiming to disrupt the process, saying:“They will face the full force of the law.
“The IGP has also issued a stern warning to political thugs and any individuals or groups who may contemplate acts of violence or disruption before, during, or after the election: they will face the full force of the law.
“The message is clear—those who attempt to jeopardise the peace and security of the state will not go unpunished,” the statement added.
The ICIR reported that eighteen governorship candidates on Friday, November 8, in Akure signed a peace accord ahead of the 2024 state off-cycle governorship election.
They pledged to support a peaceful and credible electoral process in the upcoming election on November 16, 2024.
The chairman of the National Peace Committee (NPC), Abdulsalam Abubakar, oversaw the signing and emphasised the accord’s importance in promoting peace and democracy.
Abubakar urged party leaders and candidates to accept the election outcome, provided it is deemed free, fair, and credible.
He also encouraged them to seek legitimate and peaceful means of addressing any concerns that may arise after the election.
Police ban quasi-security group
In the same development, the IGP announced a ban on quasi-security groups such as the vigilante corps and Amotekun, stressing that election security is the sole responsibility of the NPF and authorised federal agencies.
According to the statement, only the NPC and federal security bodies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) are empowered to ensure safety during the election.
“Furthermore, the IGP reaffirmed the established guidelines governing election security management in Nigeria, stressing that no quasi-security organization, including state-backed groups like vigilante corps or Amotekun, will be permitted to participate in the election process.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M
IGP has no power to ban State Security agencies established by the State laws.