Edo election, litmus test for Nigerian democracy —DIG Oyebade

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Police authorities have said that Edo State Governorship election scheduled for Saturday ‘will serve as another litmus test for determining the strength or otherwise Nigerian democratic process’.
The Deputy Inspector-General of police (DIG) Adeleye Oyebade disclosed this while addressing newsmen on Wednesday in Benin City.
He said adequate security for residents of the State particularly persons assigned to election duty, assuring that votes will count.
Oyebade, said that the force in conjunction with other sister security agencies and Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) will discharge its duties professionally with fear or favour by adhering strictly to their code of conduct, Covid-19 guidelines and regulations.
He also said that security personnel have identified potential flashpoints across the State for effective policing, describing the inter-agency Consultative Committee on election Security (ICCES).
According to him, the membership were drawn from the various security agencies, para-military and military personnel and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) which are saddled with prosecuting credible election in the State as a milestone.
The DIG who promised that security personnel assigned on election duty will neutral, cautioned political actors in the election, admonished members of the “public to abstain from launching vitriolic attacks or making caustic, acerbic odious comments, or hate speeches capable of flamming embers of discord, thereby heating up the polity”.
He revealed that no fewer than three police Officers and personnel of the security agencies will be deployed in each of the 2,627 polling booths in the election.
As part of efforts geared towards information management and security, DIG Oyebade, called on members of the public to make use of dedicated emergency lines during the election.
The numbers are: 08154352118 (for calls only) and 08154350436 (for SMS and WhatsApp).
The police boss, also urged eligible voters in the state to exercise their franchise without let or hindrance.