To ensure a hitch-free gubernatorial election on Saturday, 18 June, hundreds of heavily-armed security operatives from various agencies have been deployed to Ekiti State.
The residents are expected to come out on Saturday to cast their votes across the State.
Recent clashes among supporters of some candidates of the various political parties, which had resulted in deaths, have become a cause for worry to many residents.
Cases of kidnapping and armed robbery which have been very rampant in the State, particularly along the Akure/Ado Ekiti road, also posed threat to the election.
Checkpoints at entry points into Ado Ekiti, the State capital, are manned by armed soldiers.
Reports also have it that personnel drafted in from neighbouring states to beef up security have been posted to every community in Ekiti.
A convoy of heavily-armed operatives of the various security agencies on ‘operation show of force’ was sighted by along Bank Road, by the old INEC office.
There is water-tight security at the new office of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), located along New Iyin Ekiti Road.
Hundreds of operatives made up of anti-riot and regular policemen, operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) mount guards inside and outside the premises and other strategic locations in Ekiti state.
The security operatives have however been very civil in their dealings with the residents.
A resident who gave his name simply as Idowu, told our Correspondent that the heavy presence of security operatives is a reassurance for him that he could come out freely to vote for the candidate of his choice.
He said: “I am happy with their presence, it gives me confidence that I can come out tomorrow to vote. I will be travelling to Iropora, my home town this afternoon, to enable me to vote tomorrow.”
Others who spoke on the condition of anonymity also expressed similar sentiment about the proof of the security operatives.
A resident who gave his name as John Elegbeleye, however, lamented the seeming militarization of elections in the country.
He blamed the situation on what he called the greedy attitude of politicians and their supporters.
“If we cannot elect our leaders without the heavy presence of security operatives, then, the elections are not free. Their presence alone can intimidate some of the electorate.
“But, I blame the situation on the greedy and I-must-get-it-all attitude of our politicians and their supporters,” he said.
Meanwhile, a son of Ekiti, Mr Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria has advocated the arrest of thugs and vote buyers in the state.
As he put it: “Because the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba has read the Riot Act to the leaders of all political parties in the State we call on the Commissioner of Police and Resident Electoral Commissioner for Ekiti State to ensure that the election is not disrupted by any group or individual. We also call on the Independent National Electoral Commission and the anti-graft agencies to stop the disgraceful conduct of vote-buying by arresting purchasers and their agents to prosecute them.”