NB247
In a bid to ensure appreciable turnout of voters for Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti State, the Nigerian Police Force has urged voters of a multi-layered protection plan during the exercise.
“I want to encourage registered voters. They should come out and vote tomorrow. Nothing will happen to them,” were the admonition of Abayomi Shogunle, the Commissioner of Police in charge the election.
Mr Shogunle, while speaking to journalists on Friday in Ado Ekiti, declared that the force had adequately prepared for the exercise to ensure no security breach during the poll.
“We are calling on registered voters to come out and exercise their civic responsibility peacefully,” he said, assuring residents of adequate security before, during and after the poll.
Mr Shogunle also called on the public to remain law-abiding and report suspicious activities to the nearest security agency or via the police emergency line at 08062335577.
According to him, the officers are already on ground to ensure that the exercise went hitch-free.
“Police escort or police armed guard will also remain with those materials as well as the INEC staff and the ad hoc staff. And very early tomorrow morning, those materials will be distributed under police escort to all the polling units in Ekiti,” he said.
“That will start very early in the morning so that all polling units, in collaboration with INEC, we want all polling units to be set up as early as 6.37 to be ready for voting, so that casting of votes will commence at 8.30, which is the stipulated time.”
On the opererational plan of the police, the police commissioner said the Inspector General of Police had approved a plan that would ensure all intent to disrupt of compromise the election would be restrained.
He said the plan was “multi-layered security approach,” warning trouble makers to stay away on election day or face the wrath of the law.
Mr Shogunle said, “If voting is to start now, we are fully prepared. Everything that is needed to be done has been done. And from my engagement with civil society organisations that are present here up to last night, we have been receiving the same assessment with our own assessment as regards the level of confidence in security agencies in ensuring that the election goes on peacefully without any incidents.
“There is a high level of confidence in security agencies by citizens and residents of the Ekiti State. And also, our police officers, we just completed the training for police officers that will be taking part in this election, and they have gone back to sensitise others.
“Two important documents will guide every police action. One is the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, and the Electoral Act 2026, as amended. So those are the two important documents that will guide police actions and response to issues pertaining to this election.”
He declared that the police force would remain neutral throughout the course of the election.
Meanwhile, the police has emplaced restriction of movement during the election on Saturday.
Ekiti State Police Spokesperson, Sunday Abutu, announced the restriction order on Friday.
Mr Abutu said the restriction would take effect from midnight (12:00 a.m.) to 6:00 p.m. and cover both intra-state and inter-state roads within Ekiti.