The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Ibrahim Idris has assured citizens of Ondo state of a violence-free governorship election come November 26, saying that officers and men of Nigeria police Force would be deployed in good numbers in order to guard against violence.
IGP Idris reiterated that the police is committed to ensuring that there was peace in all parts of the state during the election.
The Police Chief was speaking on Thursday, in Akure, the Ondo State capital,during a programme organised by a Non-Governmental Organisation, ‘the Cleen Foundation’ with the title ‘Security Threat Assessment for the governorship election in Ondo State’.
Idris, who was represented by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, Sola Okediji, admitted that there were tendencies that thngs may get out of hand during the election, given the series of controversies being witnessed in the two major parties taking part in the election.
He however added that the police would be fully on ground to prevent any outbreak of violence before, during and after the poll.
He said: “it won’t be business as usual for politicians in Ondo State because
the police will not tolerate any act that could lead to violence in the state. We shall resist all their plans to truncate the peace of the state before, during and after the poll.
“The police will not tolerate crisis in any part of the state. It is therefore important
Political watchers worry that the Ondo governorship election may witness a break down of law and order due to the infighting that is engulfing both the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC.
In the PDP, two candidates Jimoh Ibrahim and Eyitayo Jegede, are laying claims to the candidacy of the party and the issue is still subject of litigation in the Appeal courts.
The APC on the other hand has not fully recovered from the controversial Primary election which saw the emergence of Rotimi Akeredolu as its flag-bearer.