By Adewole Kehinde
“I believe that voting is the first act of building a community as well as building a country.” John Ensign
In 2023, IGP Kayode Egbetokun put in place watertight measures that ensured free and fair governorship elections on November 11, 2023, in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states, respectively.
The same watertight measures will be in place in Edo State when the electorate goes to the polls on Saturday, September 21st, 2024.
The Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, has promised level playing for all political parties and their candidates participating in the governorship election in Edo State.
Egbetokun said the police would collaborate with other security agencies to assist the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure a free and fair election.
The police boss said the Nigerian Police Force is aware of its responsibility to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
He stated that police officers would be apolitical while being vigilant in exercising their duties on September 21.
“I am here today to affirm our commitment to a peaceful and secure electoral process. We recognise the importance of this moment and the trust placed in us to ensure the integrity of this election.
“We would remain impartial, professional, and vigilant while providing a level playing field for all the political parties and their candidates.”
“Just as you have seen in other isolated elections in Nigeria, you will see that we have availability of men more in number than what we used to have in general elections.
“So, I have no fear, and nobody should entertain any fear about how safe and secure the elections are going to be in Edo State, the IGP said during a consultative stakeholder meeting in Benin, Edo State.
Since it is just one state, it will be very convenient for the Nigeria Police, so nobody should entertain any fear about the election as the police and other security agencies are prepared for it.
To raise the morale of the police officers during the election, Egbetokun requested permission from the Federal Government to pay their allowances and provide other essential support.
I will call on all stakeholders to join the Nigerian police and other sister security agencies to embrace peace, tolerance, and respect for democracy, uphold the sanctity of the rule of law, and be law-abiding in their endeavours before, during, and after the elections, as the police and other security agencies have been placed on alert to avert any unruly acts capable of disrupting the elections in any of the states.
Adewole Kehinde is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja. 08166240846 kennyadewole@gmail.com
