Ekiti 2022: Police Withdraw VIPs’ Orderlies, Cautions Political Parties

• INEC deploys sensitive materials to 16 LGAs

Ahead of Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti state, the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have announced the temporary withdrawal of policemen attached to influential personalities in the state until after the exercise.

This is as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said sensitive materials have already been deployed to the 16 local government areas of the state for the poll.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Johnson Kokumo, who made the announcement, said “all police orderlies attached to the VIPs are to be dropped because they are not to be seen with their principals until the election is over.”

“It is forbidden, it is not allowed. All orderlies are withdrawn to base and after the election, they can return”, he said, assuring the public that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure maximum security of voters, officials, and all law-abiding citizens in the state.

DIG Kokumo told newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, the State capital that there would be adequate police personnel and other sister security agencies to guarantee the integrity of the elections,

The DIG, who is coordinating the over 17,000 police contingent for the election, also allayed the fears of the citizens about the heavy presence of operatives in the state, even as he warned individuals planning to disrupt the poll to have a change of mind or face the wrath of the law.

While urging all political parties to rein in their supporters and ensure they maintain peace across the length and breadth of the State, the Police boss said; ” We want to assure our people in Ekiti that we have enough men to protect and guarantee peaceful poll on Saturday.

According to him; “The heavy deployment is not to scare voters away from the poll but to allay fears and ensure the electorate are confident to come out and exercise their franchise. Let me say that we will not do anything that will be counter-productive.”

Responding to questions on election malpractice, DIG Kokumo said; “On the menace of vote-buying on election day, the operatives have been sensitized on the need to clamp down on people that will be involved in the criminal acts.”

He promised that the Force would not tolerate any act capable of disrupting the exercise, warning that anyone arrested would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

On the INEC’s deployment of sensitive materials to the 16 local government areas of the state ahead of Saturday’s poll, the Director of Voter Education and Publicity in the state, Femi Akinbiyi said the Commission is prepared to deliver credible, free, and fair elections that would be acceptable and meet global standards.

”We have moved the sensitive and non-sensitive materials to the LGAs, we are fully prepared for the election to come Saturday. Following the reports and assurances from the security agencies, we are good to go on Saturday and it will be a standpoint in the country”, he said.