Police deploy 22,239 officers for Ondo governorship election

By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja

The Nigeria Police has resolved to deploy a total of 22,239 officers for the Saturday, November 16 governorship election in Ondo State.
This was disclosed by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun on Thursday during a stakeholders meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, in Akure, the state capital.
The IGP, who was represented by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Zone 17, Mr Abiodin Oladimeji, explained that deploying the said number of officers was necessary in order to deliver adequate election security.
The Police IG stated that it is a common knowledge that the success of any important process like the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo state depends on peace, order and security.
He stressed therefore that any breach of the peace or security can surely scuttle the success expected in the exercise, hence it is very pertinent for all stakeholders to discharge their various duties with security conscious approaches.
His words, “Elections, as we all know, is a crucial democratic process in which electorates have the opportunity to exercise their rights of franchise to choose their leaders by majority votes.
“Given the fact that the process of election leads to the emergence of leaders, the stakes are always very high as most contenders with their followers tend to deploy all means to ensure victory.
“In our clime, some contenders strategize to generate some heat in the polity thereby posing security threats. “Regarding such threats, provision of security before, during and after the process becomes an essential and concerted duty.
“It is common knowledge that success of any important process like the forthcoming Governorship election in this state depends on peace, order and security.
“Therefore breach of the peace or security can surely scuttle the success expected in the exercise. Hence it is very pertinent for all stakeholders to discharge our various duties with security conscious approaches.
“We should bear it in mind that performing our roles in the fair and orderly manner will certainly reduce the security threats to the barest minimum, with a far reaching effect on the credibility of the election.
“The Nigeria Police and other supporting security agencies responsible to provide security in the forthcoming election have a responsibility to solidly synergize and work as a formidable team to identify and nip in the bud, all security threats, provide water-tight security at the polling stations as well as all the public spaces within the state.
“Security of the voters the electoral officials, the electoral materials and the general public will have to be effectively provided before, during and after the election.
“This can be efficiently achieved by concerted covert and overt operations by the synergized security agencies assigned for the election duties.
“In order to deliver adequate election security, the Nigeria Police, apart from additional manpower from sister agencies, is going to deploy a total of 22,239 officers for the exercise.
“It is equally significant to advise the other stakeholders like the political parties, the contesting candidates and their agents to conduct themselves peacefully and lawfully, in line with global best practices of democracy”, he said.
In her welcome address, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ondo State, Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola said that the Security Agencies have assured the commission of adequate security for the peaceful election in the State.
In her words, “Oath of Loyalty and Neutrality shall be administered to all security agents as stipulated in the Electoral Act”.
Election Security Personnel she revealed, have been trained at both State and Senatorial district levels to enhance professionalism and a better understanding of the electoral process.

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