By Chizoba Ogbeche
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, has deployed an Assistant Inspector-General of Police, five Commissioners of Police (CPs) to coordinate security during Saturday’s governorship election in Ekiti state.
A press statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Frank Mba, stated that AIG Bala Nasarawa would supervise security arrangements, while CP Ikechukwu Aduba would function as CP in charge of Ekiti state for the period of the election.
The statement also said all security details had been warned not to accompany their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election, just as security personnel assigned to election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.
Mba added that three other CPs would be saddled with the responsibility of supervising security arrangements in the three senatorial districts of the state as follows: Danladi Y. Mshelbwala (Ekiti-North); Mohammed Ibrahim (Ekiti-Central) and Augustine Eubakhabokum (Ekiti-South).
He said CP Hosea Karma, in charge of PMF, would be charged with the responsibility of supervising the operations of the Police Mobile Force and other special Strike Forces.
IGP Abubakar, he said, had also placed an order banning movements in and out of Ekiti state with effect from 6pm yesterday till the elections are over on Saturday, just as movement would be restricted within the state on Saturday between 6am to 8pm.
Kwara, Kogi, Ondo and Osun states which are contiguous to Ekiti state, he said, would have increased police presence with all entry and exit points maximally policed, however, persons on essential duties such as Ambulance service providers, INEC officials, on-duty security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists, among others are not affected by the order.
