As part of measures aimed at ensuring a hitch-free election devoid of electoral fraud in the forth-coming Saturday governorship election in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Muhammed Abubakar, has  ordered the immediate deployment of the State Commissioner of Police, Felix Uyanah, he is to be replaced by another Commissioner of Police, Ikechukwu Aduba.

This was contained in a press statement from the Force Headquarters, Abuja on Thursday. The press statement which was signed by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Frank Mbah, also stated that an Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Bala Nasarawa, has been mandated to supervise security arrangements in the state before, during and after the Saturday election.

AIG Nasarawa will be assisted by four Commissioners of Police. “While CP Ikechukwu Aduba will function as CP in charge of Ekiti State for the period of the election, three other CPs will be specifically saddled with the responsibility of supervising security arrangements in the three senatorial districts of the state. They are: CP Danladi Y. Mshelbwala (Ekiti-North), CP Mohammed Ibrahim (Ekiti-Central) and CP Augustine Eubakhabokum (Ekiti-South). CP Hosea Karma (CP in charge of PMF) will be charged with the responsibility of supervising the operations of the Police Mobile Force and other special Strike Forces.”

In the same vein, the IGP has also placed an order banning movements in and out of Ekiti State with effect from 6pm Thursday, 19th June, 2014 till the elections are over. On Saturday 21st June 2014, which is the day of the election, movements will be restricted within the state between 6am to 8pm. Consequently, the states of Kwara, Kogi, Ondo and Osun which are contiguous to Ekiti State will have increased Police presence with all entry and exit points in and out of Ekiti maximally policed.

However, persons on essential duties such as Ambulance service providers, INEC officials, on-duty security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists, etc are not affected by this order.

The Force High Command notes that the restriction order is informed by the exigencies of overriding security considerations. Noting that the Force is not ignorant of the citizen’s right to freedom of movement, as enshrined in the constitution, it however reiterates that the order is informed by the need to forestall plans by criminal elements to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.

“While empathizing with the citizenry over the inconveniences the order may cause, the IGP implores them to see this restriction as a necessary sacrifice in the present circumstance geared towards the quest for a seamless, credible and successful gubernatorial election. He also appeals to travelers to avail themselves of the use of alternate routes to their various destinations where necessary within the days – Friday June 20 to – Sunday June 22, 2014”

Meanwhile, the Force sternly warns all security details to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election. It emphasizes that only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.

A total of 3,500 security personnel have been deployed by the police, the Navy and Army commands in the neighbouring  South-Western States of Nigeria, to ensure adequate security in the forth-coming General Elections in Ekiti and Osun States respectively.

Of the number, the Lagos State Police Command is contributing the largest number of 3,000 men, who have taken their respective positions since Friday.

Police spokesman, Wole Ogodo, noted that the policemen have been fully briefed on their assignment and were expected to ensure that peace reigned during today’s election.

He said, “We are fully ready and our men have received their final address this morning (Friday) and are already on their way to Igbokoda and Igbekebo, headquarters of the two local governments of the federal constituency.

“We want a free and fair election and we are going to ensure that there is a level playing field for all the parties.”

A top Police source said the security personnel detailed for the election duty were already on ground at respective locations in the two states.

“They have to be there on time, to carry out reconnaissance and intelligence operations. That way it would be easy for us to Police the two States before and during the elections.”

It was also gathered that, the 3,500 operatives had been on special training for election policing and security in the last one month in Abuja. It was learnt that the training was under the auspices of the United States of America (USA), United Nations and European Nations funds.

Earlier in the week, the Police boss had assured Nigerian citizens, especially indigenes of Ekiti State, of the readiness of the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies to provide effective security and ensure a smooth and orderly conduct of the Ekiti Gubernatorial election.

The IGP who gave this assurance during a brief meeting with the Police Management Team, Friday, 13th June, 2014, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, warns all trouble-makers and anti-social elements to stay away from Ekiti throughout the period of the election as the Police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any person, no matter how highly placed in society, who flouts the law or causes a breach of the peace.

To this end, the IGP has directed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of Operations, DIG Michael Zuokumor, to relocate to Ado-Ekiti, the Headquarters of Ekiti State so as to ensure adequate Police presence and coordination of all security operations for the election in all polling units and collation centres in the state.

Meanwhile, the IGP who has ordered all Police officers and men assigned to election duties in Ekiti State to ensure they work in line with the Police Code of Conduct and international best practices, called on the members of the public particularly politicians, gubernatorial candidates and other relevant stakeholders in Ekiti State to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies in the onerous but patriotic task of guaranteeing a hitch-free gubernatorial poll.

Commanding Officer of the Forward Operation Base of the Nigerian Navy in Igboka, Ondo State, Navy Capt. Nji Onwuegbu, said the Navy had 200 of its personnel participating in providing security for the elections.