The Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Ondo state governorship election, DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, Thursday, briefed police officers and the media on Saturday’s election at the Ondo State Police Command Headquarters, Akure.
Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a press statement in Abuja, said DIG Alabi addressed the officers deployed for the election duty and the members of the press, emphasizing the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies for the election.
He said the DIG stated that the Force had begun effective deployments of personnel across all 18 local government areas, 203 wards, and 3,933 polling units in the state.
This is as the police boss assured on the deployment of at least four police officers alongside officers from other security agencies at each polling unit, to ensure a smooth poll.
According to Adejobi, “In a bid to emplace proactive measures against all forms of security threat and interference during the electoral process, the DIG emphasized the importance of Intelligence gathering and firmness.
“These approaches are essential for upholding safety and security, as it assists in identifying and preventing electoral fraud, including vote-buying and manipulation.
“By leveraging intelligence gathering, the police can ensure a secure, free, and fair electoral process. To this end, the Force has carried out a comprehensive threat analysis and as well, deployed adequate personnel to areas identified as vulnerable points during the elections.”
He said DIG Alabi further encouraged a collaborative effort between the NPF and other election security agencies as well as the electorates; even as he reiterated the commitment of the Force to maintaining law and order across the state with adequate contingency plans to respond appropriately to issues that may arise before, during and after the election.
“Citizens are advised to abide by the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2023, (as amended) and INEC guidelines, as well as all other extant laws of the land, as every electoral offender and troubles shooters would be arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” the statement added.