Despite early morning rains, Police Officers on election duty in today’s (Saturday September 21st) Governorship elections in Edo State arrived Polling Units in majority of the voting centres in the state on time and provided the required security for voters and the voting materials.
The Officers were largely professional and polite but there were cases of vote buying/inducement.
There were massive deployment of Police personnel across the state that initially seemed to have scared eligible voters but had gradually built confidence and a sense of security as voters conducted their civic duty without fear in most of the voting centers
Police Service Commission Monitors noticed the presence of Police officers in almost all the Polling units visited. In Etsako west, East and Central Local Government Areas, most Polling Units had two Police officers that were complemented by personnel of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and Nigerian Correctional Services.
In Edo South Senatorial zone, Commission Monitors visited Uzebu, Ogbe, Ikpoba Oka, Egor and Uhunwonde. Most of the Polling Units in Uhunwonde had no Police presence but officers of Nigerian Immigration services and Correctional Services held forth.
The major highways in Edo State were locked down by men of the Military and Police Mobile Force Force.
The Commission staff Monitors were led by DIG Taiwo Lakanu rtd who operated from the Security Control Room at the State Police Command Headquarters in Benin. The Commission was also at the Civil Society Situation Room at the Protea hotels in Benin.
DIG Frank Mba led the Police team that included several Assistant Inspectors General of Police with Commissioners of Police heading all the Local Government Areas. The Edo Command CP Nemi Iwo was fully on ground to provide the required support for effective policing of the Edo elections.
DIG Lakanu commended the seamless deployment of the operational personnel and said that Nigeria was gradually getting it right.
He said the massive deployment of security personnel in Edo state during the election assured the electorates of their safety.
He said the Commission will continue to monitor Police conduct during elections as part of its oversight functions on the Police and to help grow the nation’s democracy.
Ikechukwu Ani
Head, Press and Public Relations