Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Edo State Police Command said it has mobilized a total of 7,825 Police personnel for the state’s bye-election scheduled for Saturday.
The bye-election is being held to fill the vacant positions in Edo Central Senatorial and Ovia Federal Constituency seats respectively.
The seats became vacant following the election of the previous occupiers, Senator Monday Okpebholo and Hon. Dennis Idahosa as governor and deputy governor of the state.
The Command stated that the deployment was to ensure a safe, secure, and peaceful environment across all areas where the election would take place.
The Command image maker, CSP Moses Yamu, who disclosed this in a statement, said the personnel were drawn from Zone 5 Headquarters, the Edo State Command, Police Mobile Force (PMF).
Others, according to him, included personnel from the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), and the Election Monitoring Team from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
“This massive deployment is also aimed at providing adequate security before, during, and after the elections, to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral officials and materials, while maintaining law and order,” Yamu said.
He added that the Command had imposed restriction of movement from 12:00 midnight of Friday, August 15, to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 16, in all areas where elections would be conducted.
He said the measure was geared to prevent any form of interference, disruption, or breach of peace during the electoral process.
The PPRO quoted the State Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, as “appealing to members of the public to comply with this directive, noting that only those on essential duties with valid identification will be allowed passage.
“The CP warned that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the election, or undermining the peace, will be dealt with in accordance with the law,” he said.
