Edo: INEC warns against violence as police deploy 35, 000 officers

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said it is ready for the upcoming Edo State governorship election, scheduled for September 21, 2024. INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, gave the assurance at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Benin City on Wednesday, urging all political parties and candidates to ensure a peaceful election by restraining their supporters from resorting to violence. This was as the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, on Wednesday, announced that 35,000 personnel would be deployed for the poll. Egbetokun also warned the state-owned security outfit, Edo State Security Network, to steer clear of the poll, saying the outfit had been banned. The INEC chairman said the commission had completed most of the preparations required for the election, giving the assurance that the commission was ready for the poll. “Let me reassure stakeholders that INEC is ready for the election. INEC has so far implemented 11 out of the 13 activities in the election timetable,” he said. “The remaining two are the end of political campaigns on September 19, and the election itself on September 21.” Yakubu also provided updates on the voter registration process, revealing that Edo State now has 2,629,025 registered voters. In the most recent voter registration exercise, 184,438 new and transferred Permanent Voter Cards were issued, which included 119,206 new voters and 65,232 transfers or reprints. INEC has accredited 134 observer groups, including 124 domestic and 10 international organisations, and over 700 journalists from 114 media outlets will cover the election. In addition, thousands of party agents have been accredited to monitor proceedings at 4,519 polling units and other collation centers. Security for the election was a key focus of the meeting, with Yakubu confirming that the police and other security agencies were prepared to safeguard both election officials and voters. “In our various engagements with stakeholders at the national level, they underscored the importance of providing security during the election to guarantee their personal safety, the protection of their equipment and unimpeded access to voting and collation locations. “We have conveyed this concern to the security agencies at the last meeting of ICCES at the national level. We have also discussed the security of our officials (both regular and ad hoc staff) for the election, the service providers such as transporters and, above all, the citizens who will vote during the election. “I am glad that the relevant agencies have given us the necessary assurance of security during the election,” Yakubu said. In his remarks, the IG said 35,000 policemen would work with sister security agencies to ensure the security of the exercise. He said, “The police will deploy 35, 000 alongside 8,000 others from sister agencies for the Edo governorship election on September 21. “The ban on Edo State Security Network is in place and the outfit will not participate in the election. No private or state-owned security apparatus would be allowed to operate during and after the election. “All local securities in Edo state should refrain from participating in the Edo election. No one is allowed to bring arms to the election venue as such persons will be arrested “The police will ensure strict compliance with the Electoral Act and other requisite laws to provide a conducive environment for the peaceful conduct of the election.”