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| [FILE PHOTO] Ekiti state |
The atmosphere in Ekiti State was peaceful ahead of today’s presidential and National Assembly elections, as the police authorities deployed three commissioners to assist the state’s police boss, Mr. Asuquo Amba, to monitor the polls.
Except for operators of commercial buses that besieged the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to secure contract to move election materials across the state today, commercial activities were abysmally low yesterday.
Some government offices and commercial banks in Ekiti closed earlier yesterday to enable people prepare for the elections.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said the commissioners, whose names were not disclosed, would monitor each of the senatorial districts of the state.
Ikechukwu added that the police have also adopted new method to check vote-buying, revealing that operatives in mufti would be deployed to all the 2,195 polling units to arrest the perpetrators.
“The operatives will mingle with voters and from there have the knowledge of those engaging in this electoral offence,” he said.
Ikechukwu said the security details of Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the state with the exception of Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, had been withdrawn.
The PPRO stated that three security men would be deployed to each of the polling units to secure the workers and materials deployed INEC for the conduct of the elections.
“The security arrangements have been made in such a way that there would be no room for security lapses. Three security men comprising police, civil defence and immigration officers will man each of the polling units.
“As of now, three police commissioners are on the ground to work with CP Asuquo Amba. Each of them will man the three senatorial districts to enforce compliance to restriction of vehicles, except those on essential services, and to make sure that no one circumvents the laws of the land regarding these elections.”
The police spokesman stated that the Special Tactical Unit (STU) of the police would be deployed to each of the 16 councils of the state to attend to emergency situations that could derail the conduct of the polls.
“These are armed units of the police who will be on standby to tackle cases of violence, attempted ballot snatching and ballot stuffing. They would also help in putting politicians who may want to demonstrate abuses at check,” he said.
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Except for operators of commercial buses that besieged the premises of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to secure contract to move election materials across the state today, commercial activities were abysmally low yesterday.
Some government offices and commercial banks in Ekiti closed earlier yesterday to enable people prepare for the elections.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said the commissioners, whose names were not disclosed, would monitor each of the senatorial districts of the state.
Ikechukwu added that the police have also adopted new method to check vote-buying, revealing that operatives in mufti would be deployed to all the 2,195 polling units to arrest the perpetrators.
“The operatives will mingle with voters and from there have the knowledge of those engaging in this electoral offence,” he said.
Ikechukwu said the security details of Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the state with the exception of Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, had been withdrawn.
The PPRO stated that three security men would be deployed to each of the polling units to secure the workers and materials deployed INEC for the conduct of the elections.
“The security arrangements have been made in such a way that there would be no room for security lapses. Three security men comprising police, civil defence and immigration officers will man each of the polling units.
“As of now, three police commissioners are on the ground to work with CP Asuquo Amba. Each of them will man the three senatorial districts to enforce compliance to restriction of vehicles, except those on essential services, and to make sure that no one circumvents the laws of the land regarding these elections.”
The police spokesman stated that the Special Tactical Unit (STU) of the police would be deployed to each of the 16 councils of the state to attend to emergency situations that could derail the conduct of the polls.
“These are armed units of the police who will be on standby to tackle cases of violence, attempted ballot snatching and ballot stuffing. They would also help in putting politicians who may want to demonstrate abuses at check,” he said.
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