…. arrive at Polling Units on time and largely professional
…. Lakanu commends deployments
Despite early morning rains, Police Officers on election duty in today’s (Saturday,, September 21st) Governorship elections in Edo State arrived at polling units in the majority of the voting centres in the state on time and provided the required security for voters and the voting materials.
according to a press release on Saturday, September 21st, 2024, signed by the PSC Head, Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the Officers were largely professional and polite but there were cases of vote buying/induction.
There was the 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 centres
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 who were complemented by personnel of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and Nigerian Correctional Services.
In the 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 the 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, which 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 the 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.
