As the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election, set for November 16, 2024, approaches, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has given a firm assurance to the public regarding the Nigeria Police Force’s robust commitment to ensuring a peaceful, secure, and orderly electoral process.
With the election covering all 18 Local Government Areas, 203 Wards, and 3,933 Polling Units across the state, the IGP has outlined comprehensive security measures to safeguard the entire process.
IGP Egbetokun emphasised that detailed plans are already in place to guarantee the smooth conduct of the election.
These plans include the strategic deployment of sufficient personnel, advanced equipment, and necessary resources.
A variety of specialised police units will be mobilized to provide robust security coverage.
These units include the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, K-9 Unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), and the Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force (FID-STS).
They will work in tandem with other security agencies to ensure a coordinated and effective approach to election security.
The deployment strategy also includes aerial surveillance using police helicopters and the patrol of the state’s waterways by gunboats, ensuring that all terrains—whether urban or rural—remain secure throughout the election process.
These proactive measures are designed not only to provide comprehensive security but also to act as a deterrent against any attempts to disrupt the election.
IGP Egbetokun also issued a stern warning to those considering acts of violence or attempts to undermine the election.
He stressed that any individual or group found engaging in electoral violence or disruption will face the full force of the law.
The message from the Nigeria Police Force is unequivocal: any threat to the peace and security of Ondo State during the election will be met with severe consequences.
In addition, the IGP reaffirmed the established protocols governing election security in Nigeria, underscoring that only the Nigeria Police Force and other authorised federal security agencies are tasked with ensuring security during the election.
He made it clear that no quasi-security organisations, including state-backed groups such as Vigilante Corps or Amotekun, will be permitted to participate in the election process.
The responsibility for election security rests solely with the Nigeria Police Force and its federal partners, working in close collaboration with the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
With these measures in place, the Nigeria Police Force, alongside its federal security partners, stands resolute in its mission to ensure that the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election proceeds smoothly, securely, and in full compliance with the principles of electoral integrity and fairness.
, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has given a firm assurance to the public regarding the Nigeria Police Force’s robust commitment to ensuring a peaceful, secure, and orderly electoral process. ){kind=link}