Police learn lesson, move to restrict movement during Saturday election in Edo State

A combined team of security operatives have been put in place to ensure a total restriction of movement during Saturday's House of Assembly election in Edo State.

The Commissioner of Police in charge of Election in Edo State, CP Ben Okolo, announced this on Thursday, 16 March 2023, in Benin City, during a stakeholder meeting about the violent-free election in the state.

CP Okolo said the police and other security teams would ensure complete compliance with the restriction of movement across all parts of the state ahead of, and during the election on Saturday, 18 March 2022.

He warned that the restriction would focus on those driving from one location to another, adding that such free movement allows hoodlums to move arms to polling stations to cause mayhem.

He cautioned politicians to obey electoral rules and other acts that would ensure the success of the electoral process.

The Commissioner said, "I acknowledge pockets of disturbances in some polling stations during the last Presidential/National assembly elections. This time, we have tightened the security for Saturday's election.

I want to warn hoodlums and other miscreants to stay away from voting centres as anyone caught causing crises will be arrested and prosecuted".

CP Okolo called for the cooperation of politicians in order to ensure a hitch-free election on Saturday.

Lt. Col Augustine Chinedu, who represented the commander of 4 Brigade, Nigeria Army, Benin City, said the Army would work with the police focusing on flash points during the election.

The Air force commander vowed to ensure that Edo state would not become the theatre of war during the election.

Other security commanders, including the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission EFCC's representative, warned against vote buying as they promised to arrest any person or group of persons that will engage in vote-buying in whatever disguise during the election.

The security meeting had representatives of the various political parties in Edo state.

©Standard Gazette, 2021. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s publisher is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Standard Gazette with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.