By Ayodele Oni
No fewer than 33,783 police personnel have been deployed to Ondo State for Saturday’s governorship election.
The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, who arrived the state, on Monday, amidst violent clashes among supporters of major political parties, disclosed this during a meeting with stakeholders, political parties, traditional rulers, election observers .
Already, a Deputy Inspector General, an Assistant Inspector General and Eleven Commissioners of Police have already been deployed for the election.
According to him, the deployment 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.
“The personnel shall be deployed to adequately secure the 3,009 polling Units in 203 wards spread accross the 18 local government area of the state.
“They are to protect the personnel and assets of the Independent National Electoral Commission, the elecrorate, and residents of Ondo State in general before, during and after the election,” he said.
The IG maintained that the rationale for the deployment was drawn from the experience garnered in the recently concluded election and proactively responding to the outcome of the intelligence analysis arising from election threat assessment of Ondo State governorship election.
The Police boss pointed out that the number, which is higher than that of the recently concluded Edo election, was also to checkmate those that might be bent on threatening the elections through acts that are inimical to the dictates of electoral act.
“It is to send strong warning that the Nigeria police and other security agencies are resolute to bring recalcitrant characters threatening the process to justice no matter the status in the society or political affiliation.
“I hereby warn violence mongers to immediately desist from their uncharitable deviant activities or be prepared to face the consequences.
“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.”
The election is slated for October Ocober 10, and even though there are at least ten other political parties involved, it a direct competition between the candidates of the APC, incumbent Governor Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, candidate of the PDP, Eyitayo Jegede,SAN, and the incumbent Deputy Governor, and candidate of the ZLP, Agboola Jegede.
