There is anxiety in the polity as no fewer than 837 candidates including 24 women go to battle tomorrow for 28 governorship seats. Also, 10,240 standard bearers are jostling for 993 state assembly slots in the polls which have sparked anxiety following the outcome of the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections that caused many upsets across the country.

The 24 women, who are angling to be the first elected female governor in Nigeria, are doing so in 18 states.

Meanwhile, following fears of violence and allegations of plots to rig the polls, the Police have declared their readiness to ensure hitch-free and credible exercises and deployed their men to all parts of the country.

This came as top politicians in Lagos urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to transmit results of tomorrow’s elections electronically to its result viewing portal in real-time from the polling units unlike what it did during the February 25 polls

Ondo police warn miscreants against hijacking poll

The Ondo Police Command, yesterday, warned miscreants against hijacking the electoral process during Saturday’s elections across the state.

The Police Command also received additional anti-riot and crowd control equipment to enhance Police service delivery during the election.

It equally warned parents not to allow their children/wards to be used as instruments of harassment and disruption of the elections.

The Police Commissioner, Oyeyemi Oyediran, in a statement, said: “The Ondo State Police Command has deployed personnel of the Police Mobile Force and Special Protective Unit to escort all INEC sensitive and non-sensitive materials to all the local government areas.

“All relevant stakeholders were addressed on the need to maintain peace during the last phase of this election.”

15,000 security personnel deployed to  Oyo

Also, 15,000 security personnel including Police, Army and other agencies have been deployed to monitor the governorship/house of assembly elections in Oyo State.

Heads of security agencies met yesterday, at the Police Command Headquarters.

Appraising their performance in the last presidential election, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Williams, who read the communiqué, assured residents of the preparation of the security agencies to effectively carry out their functions by assuring the safety of lives and property during and after the conduct of the election.

He added that all the 6,393 polling units across the 33 local government areas will be policed effectively.

15,000 police officers, other security agents deployed to Delta 

In Delta, Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the South-South zone, Mr. Moses Jitoboh, said that no fewer than 15,000 security agents have been deployed across Delta State for the elections.

Jitoboh, who made the disclosure in Asaba, said 11,000 police officers and 4,000 operatives from sister security agencies would be on duty.

Debunking rumours that an unnamed governorship candidate influenced the deployment of three commissioners of police to the state to allegedly assist him in compromising the process, he said the operatives would demonstrate high level of professionalism in discharging their assigned roles during the election.

He told residents of the state to go about their lawful duties and come “out on Election Day and vote for the candidates of their choice without fear of molestation.”

We’re ready for polls in Imo — Police

In Imo, the state Police Command, yesterday, said its men are prepared to provide security for the polls.

The State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Henry Okoye, told reporters that “sequel to the Imo State Police Command commitment to provide adequate security for the smooth conduct of a peaceful, secured and credible election, the Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Ahmed Barde, has ordered a strict enforcement of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba directives to continuously mop-up illicit arms/ammunition and stem down the tide of insecurity in the State. 

“The CP has mandated Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers and Tactical Team Commanders to embark on intensive visibility policing, intelligence-led, stop and search, Operation Show of Force with other sister security agencies across all major/feeder roads of the state while ensuring that officers and men observe the Standard Operational Procedure (SOP),   adopt the best professional ethics and maintain the highest sense of neutrality in delivering a modernized civil oriented and human rights compliant Police service during the election.

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