- Police, security agencies deploy 37, 283 men
- We will deal decisively with troublemakers – Adamu
- Votes will count – Yakubu
- ‘No one will benefit from impunity or be rewarded for bad behaviour such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching and stuffing, multiple voting, hijacking and diversion of election materials, disruption of collation, falsification of results, attack on INEC officials or compelling them to declare unofficial results.’
By Banji Ayoola
Police Inspector General Mohammed Adamu on Monday read the riot act to troublemakers as he warned that security agents would decisively deal with violence mongers or anyone who attempts to disrupt the governorship election holding in Ondo State on Saturday.
Also, the Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof Mahmood Yakubu pledged that the election would be free, fair and credible as every vote would count.
They both spoke in Akure on Monday at a stakeholders meeting ahead of the election six days away, with Adamu warning that the police and other security personnel to be deployed have been trained and directed “to be as civil as possible in the discharge of their election security mandate, but firm and decisive enough in their response to any electoral breach.”
Yakubu said: “As the eligible voters in Ondo State go to the polls on Saturday, I wish to renew my appeal to all political parties, candidates and their supporters for peaceful conduct.
“Votes will count. Polling unit level results will be uploaded for public view. However, this will not happen where the process is disrupted by violence or malpractices. The Commission is determined that no one will benefit from impunity or be rewarded for bad behaviour such as vote-buying, ballot box snatching and stuffing, multiple voting, hijacking and diversion of election materials, disruption of collation, falsification of results, attack on INEC officials or compelling them to declare unofficial results. The people of Ondo State must be allowed to freely vote for their preferred candidate without inducement or harassment. We have been assured by the security agencies that thugs and their sponsors will not have the freedom to move around freely to disrupt the election or collation of results.
Adamu said that at least 37, 283 security personnel would be deployed statewide to monitor the election. These include 33, 783 police personnel comprising 30, 933 general duty and 2, 850 special police units who would be on election security duty. They also include additional 3,500 personnel drawn from other security agencies.
His words: “In order to mitigate the identified threats, we shall be deploying, aside our intelligence assets, a total of 33,783 police personnel on election security duty in Ondo State. This will comprise of 30,933 conventional police personnel and 2,850 Special Police Units. The Police deployment will be complemented by an additional 3, 500 manpower that will be drawn from other Security Agencies. The Military will be engaged for the purpose of securing the Inter State borders while the Nigeria Police Airwing will provide air surveillance.”
Condemning the incidents of political violence that rocked some parts of the state recently, the police Inspector General warned troublemakers to desist immediately from their ugly trade or be prepared to face the wrath of the law.
His words: “As we are all aware, there have been pockets of violent attacks by political opponents against each other in some areas in the state particularly in Akoko and Ipele axis.
“As condemnable as these incidents are, because electioneering campaigns are avenues for the candidates to market their manifestoes to the electorates and not arenas of conflicts, it would appear that those bent on causing political crises in the State are clearly testing our collective will to decisively deal with such threats.
“It is on that note that I hereby warn violence mongers to immediately desist from their uncharitable deviant activities or be prepared to face the consequences.
“However, political actors and law abiding electorates that are desirous of a peaceful election in Ondo State can be rest assured of optimal security as they exercise their electoral rights.”
He pledged the resolve of all security agencies to deliver a free, fair and credible election as done recently in Edo State, saying: “Let me sincerely appreciate all stakeholders that worked assiduously together in delivering a peaceful, successful, credible, free and fair election process in the recently conducted Edo State gubernatorial election.
“Just as I assured of the avowed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies to a free, fair, credible and successful election in Edo State, I stand here today to once again unequivocally reassure all political actors, electorates, local and international observers and other stakeholders that the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead agency in election security management in the country, and other security agencies shall maintain political neutrality and professionalism in the exercise of our statutory duties as provided for in the Electoral Act and other enabling laws in this Ondo gubernatorial election.
“In ensuring the credibility of the process, we have undertaken security threat assessment and all the flashpoints and actors engaged in, or planning to threaten the electoral process in Ondo State have been identified and strategies have been emplaced to frustrate their criminal, unpatriotic and undemocratic intentions.
“In order to mitigate the identified threats, we shall be deploying, aside our intelligence assets, a total of 33,783 police personnel on election security duty in Ondo State. This will comprise of 30,933 conventional police personnel and 2,850 Special Police Units.
“The Police deployment will be complemented by an additional 3, 500 manpower that will be drawn from other Security Agencies. The Military will be engaged for the purpose of securing the Inter State borders while the Nigeria Police Airwing will provide air surveillance.
“These personnel shall be deployed to adequately secure the 3,009 Polling Units (Pus) in 203 Wards spread over the 18 Local Government Areas of the State. They are to protect the personnel and assets of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the electorates and residents of Ondo State in general before, during and after the elections.
“The rationale for these deployments is purposeful and strategic. Firstly, we are drawing from the experiences garnered in the recently concluded election and proactively responding to the outcome of the intelligence analysis arising from our election threat assessment of Ondo State governorship election.
“Secondly, the deployment is equally to deny misguided political actors that might be bent on threatening the elections through acts that are inimical to the dictates of the Electoral Act, the pleasure of manifesting their ignoble traits.
“Thirdly, we are, by the deployment, sending strong warnings that the Nigeria Police and other security agencies are resolute to bring recalcitrant characters threatening the process to justice no matter their status in the society or political affiliation.”
Adamu said: “It must be noted that the success of the upcoming election is dependent on the mind-set of all of us here seated today. In this regard, I call on all the political parties to embrace the virtues of democracy by seeing elections as a call to service of the people and not ‘a do or die’ affair, even as I implore parents and guardians to counsel their children and wards to resist the unprofitable urge of being recruited by any politician for thuggery and other acts of violence.
“I wish to reassure the political parties and indeed the peace loving people of Ondo State that the Nigeria Police and other security agencies involved in the conduct of this election have commonly resolved in line with our respective Oaths of Office and Allegiance to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that this election shall be free, fair, credible and conducted in a safe and secure environment.
“Accordingly, you are all enjoined to conduct yourselves within the dictates of the Electoral Act and other relevant laws in order to avoid pitching yourselves against the law enforcement agents.”
He reeled out the electoral guidelines to be complied with by all on Saturday.
He said: “It is to be additionally emphasised that aside these sets of guidelines which fall under the provision of the Electoral Act, any person that violates any components of the Criminal Laws including being in possession of weapons of violence of any description either on the streets or around the Polling Units, engage in corrupt inducement of the electorates, or threaten public peace in any manner before, during and after the elections shall be apprehended and charged under the appropriate sections of the law.”
In his own address, INEC boss said: “Our commitment is to ensure that the choice of who becomes the next Governor of Ondo State is entirely in the hands of the voters.
“I wish to assure all eligible voters that every vote will count and only the choice made by the people of Ondo State will determine the outcome of the election.
“I want to assure political parties and candidates that we will remain focused on our processes and procedures. Let me reiterate to all stakeholders that the Commission will not take any action to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate.
“The Commission has reviewed the last Governorship election in Edo State. We are determined to continue improving on our performance. For this reason, we identified 16 areas of improvement, including logistics, prompt response to Smart Card Reader glitches on Election Day, the menace of vote buying during elections and compliance with COVID-19 protocols.
“In response, we have engaged with land and maritime transport owners for forward and reverse logistics to and from land and riverine locations. We have engaged additional 104 Registration Area Technical Support (RATECHS) staff to respond rapidly to issues with Card Readers on Election Day.
“We had useful discussions with the security agencies and anti-corruption agencies on how to deal with vote buying during elections. Working with health authorities, we will continue to enforce safety measures at polling units, including the compulsory wearing of face masks and the provision of non-pharmaceutical interventions such as hand sanitizers and infra-red thermometers at polling locations and collation centres.
“On this note, I would like to appeal to all election officials, transport providers, polling agents, election observers and the media to ensure compliance with the advisory by health authorities. Voting in safety is a critical component of elections in the era of COVID-19 pandemic.
“All eligible voters will have equal opportunity to exercise their right to vote. In order to ensure greater awareness and effective participation of all citizens in the electoral process, the Commission is deploying magnifying glasses and braille ballot guides to assist Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to vote unaided.
“For this reason, the Commission has translated and published the policy on conducting elections in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the Voters’ Code of Conduct into braille. We have also produced posters to guide hearing-impaired voters.
“To further underscore our commitment to a credible and transparent electoral process in Nigeria, the Commission introduced the z-pad to upload polling unit level results on a dedicated portal (INEC RESULT VIEWING – IReV). This technology was first deployed in the Nasarawa Central State Constituency bye-election and, most recently, in the Edo State Governorship election.
“The same technology will be deployed for the Ondo State Governorship election this Saturday. Anyone interested in viewing polling unit level result in real-time can simply visit our website (www.inecelectionresults.com) to register and create an account. So far, 58,229 viewers have registered on the portal as at Thursday last week.
“I must quickly add that the Smart Card Readers will also be deployed for voter verification and authentication. This is a mandatory requirement and where they are deliberately avoided to undermine the integrity of the electoral process, the result for the affected polling unit will be declared void in line with the Commission’s regulations and guidelines.
“The Inspector General of Police who is here personally will speak about the strategy to safeguard the electoral process.
“On Election Day, the national headquarters of INEC will monitor the election throughout Ondo State. Our Zoom Situation Room will receive live reports from the field and respond to issues that may arise. Accredited observers and the media will also be invited to join at intervals. By doing so, the Commission will receive first-hand information as the election is going on.
“At the same time, citizens can contact us on our various platforms such as the toll-free INEC Citizens Contact Centre (ICCC) telephone line in addition to our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.”
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