*Military deploys troops to state ahead of poll
*INEC starts to distribute sensitive materials*Yiaga Africa tasks electoral body, security agencies on impartiality, group warns Wike
*Damagugu, Makinde, Bala, others wrap up campaign for Ajayi
CHIGOZIE AMADI
Twenty-four hours to the start of the Ondo State governorship election, the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation.
The restriction, he said, would commence from 6am to 6pm on election day, with the exception of those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.
At the same time, the Nigerian military has deployed troops in strength to provide assistance to the police in ensuring a hitch-free off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State
But the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),has begun the distribution of sensitive materials ahead of the election.
This, nonetheless, Yiaga Africa, has charged the INEC and security agencies participating in tomorrow’s governorship election to avoid partiality and favouritism.
In another breath, a group, the Ondo Freedom Movement, a coalition of pro-democracy and good governance groups across Ondo State has condemned the comments by the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on the Ondo State governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
However, speaking on the restriction order, Egbetokun said it was part of efforts to guarantee peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process during the upcoming Ondo off-circle elections.
He also ordered the prohibition of security aides and escorts attached to VIPs from accompanying them to polling booths and collation centres to prevent disruptions.
A statement by the Force Spokesperson, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said, the IG also deployed DIG Sylvester Alabi as the coordinating DIG for the elections.
Alabi is tasked with overseeing the implementation of the police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period, while AIG Bennett Igweh, and CP Tunji Disu were also deployed as AIG and CP elections respectively.
Announcing the comprehensive security measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, transparent, and credible electoral process during the election, Egbetokun reiterated his earlier position that unauthorised security personnel and quasi-security agencies would not be permitted to operate during the exercise, and a strict ban on the use of sirens by unauthorised vehicles would be enforced.
Special consideration, he added, would be extended to individuals with disabilities, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and those facing mobility challenges to ensure that polling stations remained accessible.
“Designated election lines have been established for inquiries and reporting incidents. These lines will be publicised as soon as possible,” he said.
Reaffirming their commitment to fostering a safe and democratic environment as the state gears up for the election, the police chief urged citizens to report all suspicious activities that could threaten the integrity of the electoral process.
The Police, Egbetokun stated, would be working with the military and other federal security agencies as collaborative efforts from all stakeholders were vital to ensuring that the elections are conducted fairly and peacefully.
Military Deploys Troops to Ondo
The Nigerian military has deployed troops in strength to provide assistance to the police in ensuring a hitch free off-cycle governorship election in Ondo State.
The military also said troops’ presence during the election was to ensure security of citizens to enable them cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation, while keeping mischief makers at bay.
A statement by Director Defence Media Operations, Maj Gen Edward Buba, also disclosed that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), was already engaged in flying sensitive electoral material in support of INEC.
He noted that troops across all theatres of operations killed no fewer than 88 terrorist and arrested 228 others during the week under review.
He further disclosed that troops discovered and dismantled 59 illegal refining sites, arrested 40 perpetrators of oil theft and rescued 181 kidnapped hostages.
He averred that troops recovered 942,420 litres of stolen crude oil, 175,075 litres of illegally refined AGO and 4,980 litres of PMS.
“Troops in the Niger Delta area discovered and destroyed 13 crude oil cooking ovens, 20 dugout pits, 73 boats, 25 storage tanks and 59 illegal refining sites.
“Other items recovered include three barges, seven speedboats, 73 drums, one tricycle, five pumping machines, three mobile phones and nine vehicles among others.”
INEC Distributing Sensitive Materials
INEC in Ondo State, has begun to distribute sensitive materials ahead of the governorship election this weekend.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mrs. Toyin Babalola, who monitored the exercise, held at Akure branch of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), assured residents, political parties and all stakeholders of the commission’s readiness to conduct transparent, free and fair election.
She noted that the early distribution of the sensitive materials was to show that the commission was ready for the election, promising that the commission would be transparent in the conduct of the election.
Babalola explained that the materials would be moved to the 18 local governments areas with the help of security agencies.
Her words: “You can see that the distribution exercise is going on very smoothly. The farthest local governments have started moving to their local governments.
“All the other local governments have received their materials, they are checking and they are loading the vehicles. I’m sure in another one and a half hours, we should be out of it.
“You can see the logistics we are distributing today and this is just 10 minutes after 12PM, the vehicles are already moving. Ilaje has left, Ese-Odo has left, Okitipuwa and Irele are loading. They will soon leave.
“Then we move to the next set, Akoko North-East, North-West, Akoko South-West, South-East, Owo and Ose have collected their materials and they will leave any moment from now.
“Then Odigbo, Ondo-East, Ondo-West, Ifedore axis are leaving. We are on course. We are moving. The movement is not local government by local government. We are doing simultaneous movement.
“The difficult terrain on water are in Ilaje and Ese-Odo and we have identified those areas and we are going to have boats that will transport men and materials. We also have the support of the Navy. They are giving us gunboats to secure the movement.
“For the land where we have difficult terrain, we will move out to the place where vehicle can reach and we will continue the rest with suitable means of transportation.”
While appealing to the political parties to eschew violence on election day, the REC said the sensitive materials were being distributed to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted or did not get materials for the election.
The Chairman of APC in the state, Ade Adetumehin and the State Chairman of Inter -Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Mr. Adesanya Olaoluwa, commended the INEC for their transparency in the exercise, saying all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.
Meanwhile, representatives of the political parties participating in the election and security agencies including the Police, NSCDC, FRSC, Immigration, Customs and DSS were at the venue of the exercise.
Yiaga Africa Tasks INEC, Security Agencies
Yiaga Africa has charged the INEC and security agencies participating in Saturday’s governorship election in Ondo State to avoid partiality and favouritism.
Chairman for the 2024 Ondo Election Mission, Yiaga Africa, Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, while speaking during its pre-election press briefing in Akure, urged INEC to ensure election materials arrive early at the polling units.
His words: “We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to enhance coordination and communication with the transport companies and unions that provide logistics support.
“It is essential to ensure the timely delivery of materials to the Registration Area Centers (RACs) and to facilitate the early deployment of materials and personnel to polling units on election day.
“This approach will help to address the issue of late commencement of polls that has been observed in previous elections.”
Security agencies were charged to arrest anyone caught engaging in vote-buying and selling for prosecution to stamp out the menace.
Nwagwu noted that the act of vote-buying and selling by politicians has greatly undermined the election process in the country.
