Matilda Omonaiye/
Security agents handling the October 10 gubernatorial election in Ondo State have expressed their determination to surpass the acclaimed success recorded in Edo State on September 19.
Addressing a press conference Wednesday in Akure, Ondo State, the Supervising/Coordinating Deputy Inspector-General of Police for the Ondo State governorship election, DIG Adeleye Oyebade, said, “It is our collective resolve to replicate the success recorded in the Edo Governorship Election in Ondo State and make it even better.”
He added, “The success of this election and indeed subsequent elections depends largely on the role of every one of us. The INEC, ICCES, the political class, the candidates and their agents, the electorate, election monitors or observers, party supporters, security agents, the media and all other stakeholders involved in the electoral process. We therefore appeal to everyone to play their part well so that we could record maximum success in the forthcoming Governorship Election and make our nation proud again. By so doing we can collectively share in the joy arising from the success of the election.”
Here’s the full text of his address:
PRESS CONFERENCE BY DIG ADELEYE O. OYEBADE, mni, SUPERVISING/COORDINATING DEPUTY INSPECTOR-GENERAL OF POLICE FOR THE 2020 ONDO STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION HELD PREPARATORY TO THE ELECTION SLATED FOR 10TH OCTOBER, 2020
I am obliged by circumstances of duty to address you today on security preparation for the forthcoming gubernatorial election slated to hold in the state on 10th October, 2020.
This election will, once again, prove to the world the strength of our democracy. There is no gainsaying that elections in Nigeria and some other countries have often been conducted amidst heightened tension, desperation, pessimism, fear and anxiety. This is usually occasioned by past experiences of violence, wanton destruction of lives and valuable property during elections. Such elections marred by violence have often ridiculed our country among comity of civilized democratic nations. But should this contemptible situation continue unabated? Of course it shouldn’t and it WILL NOT!
In its determination to stem violence during election, the government has at various times taken proactive, practical steps. Among such steps is the setting up of the Interagency Consultative Committee on Election Security. The committee, which membership includes INEC, comprises heads of the nation’s security agencies. It is saddled with the onerous responsibility of ensuring safety and providing a safe, secure environment conducive for conducting free, fair, all-inclusive, transparent and credible elections.
Gentlemen of the press, I am glad to inform you without being immodest that the committee has been performing its duty creditably over time. It did it recently during the Edo State Governorship Election which has generally been adjudged to be very free, fair, credible and peaceful. This is a clear indication that the government is determined to ensure that elections in this country are free and devoid of rancor. It is also a demonstration of government’s determination to entrench sanity in the political space and ensure that citizens are free to choose according to their conscience, leaders who should govern them without fear of molestation. It is our collective resolve to replicate the success recorded in the Edo Governorship Election in Ondo State and make it even better.
The success of this election and indeed subsequent elections depends largely on the role of every one of us. The INEC, ICCES, the political class, the candidates and their agents, the electorate, election monitors or observers, party supporters, security agents, the media and all other stakeholders involved in the electoral process. We therefore appeal to everyone to play their part well so that we could record maximum success in the forthcoming Governorship Election and make our nation proud again. By so doing we can collectively share in the joy arising from the success of the election.
On our part, we will remain neutral, professional, be fair to everyone and respect the fundamental human rights of every citizen irrespective of their political affiliation. All the police officers deployed for this national assignment have been properly briefed and warned to adhere strictly to the explicit contents of the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Personnel on Election Duty. The police and other security personnel deployed for the election will be accessible but firm and resolute throughout the election period.
As disclosed by the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, NPM, mni, in his address during the interactive session with stakeholders held at the International Culture and Event Centre, Akure on 5th October, 2020, no fewer than three police officers will be posted to each polling unit. This is in addition to personnel of other sister security agencies that will also be deployed for the same purpose. Such security personnel will be deployed by name and they will wear identifiable tags for easy identification.
We assure you that we will not abdicate our constitutional responsibilities. We will provide, in collaboration with INEC and other security agents, adequate and all-inclusive security for all INEC staff, INEC materials, party agents, election observers and monitors whether local or foreign before, during and after the election. Therefore, we implore voters to go out en masse on the Election Day and cast their votes for candidates of their choice. We also enjoin other stakeholders in the electoral process to exercise their civic duty without fear of intimidation and harassment.
We want to recapitulate the following guidelines as earlier stated by the IGP:
i. No one is allowed to wear any cloth, emblem or colour signifying any political party to the polling units
ii. No person is allowed to move around with security personnel around the polling units. Any security persons who accompany their principals to the polling units will be arrested and appropriate disciplinary measure taken against them
iii. Everyone is enjoined to vote and return to their respective houses or remain peaceful within the approved parameters of the polling centres
iv. No one is allowed to move about from one polling unit to another and there shall be restriction on movement on the day of the election
v. Only INEC accredited election monitors, observers are allowed to move around for the purpose of the election monitoring and they must all wear their INEC accreditation tags
vi. Only accredited journalists are allowed to cover the election. All such journalists must carry their accreditation tags
vii. Praise singing, drumming and dancing around the vicinity of the polling units are not allowed
viii. Vehicles branded in any political party colour or emblem are not allowed to be deployed on any election assignment
ix. Selling of alcohol, beverages around the polling booths and collation centres is totally banned
Dear citizens, we will not allow political thugs and other criminal elements whose actions are antithetical to the success of this important election to ply their evil trade. Consequently, we want to sound a note of warning to individuals or groups who might be having clandestine plans for the purpose of disrupting the election to jettison such plans as anyone who violates the electoral law and other extant laws will be apprehended and subsequently prosecuted according to the law of the land.
We have carried out threat assessment of volatile areas within the state and have consequently provided additional, multi-pronged security to cover identified key and vulnerable points. We appeal to politicians particularly candidates in the forthcoming election to thread softly and play by the rules. We want to assure them that we will provide a level playing field for all irrespective of their political party. The governorship candidates are admonished to remember and be guided by the Peace Accord they signed before the whole world on 6th October, 2020. Similarly, we charge them to appeal to their supporters to thread the path of caution, decency and legality in their activities.
For the purpose of this election, we have established a Joint Control Room manned by representatives of all security agencies. The Control Room will receive, process and disseminate information arising from the election appropriately. To ensure prompt response to distress calls arising from the election, three dedicated lines – 07049960674, 09152784339 (for calls only) and 07049936417 (WhatsApp only) – have been provided. Members of the public should avail themselves of the opportunity provided by reaching out to the Control room when the need arises.
At this juncture, we cannot but appreciate the support and understanding of well-meaning Nigerians which we have enjoyed so far. We crave for more of such support and understanding. We appreciate again the Media which have also been in the vanguard of entrenching democratic tenets for their objective reportage and we hope that this will be sustained at all times. We do hope that the Media, the National Orientation Agencies, and the Inter-Party Advisory Council as well as other progress-loving groups, associations or individuals will continue to carry out aggressive, sensitization campaigns aimed at discouraging people from making inflammatory comments capable of aggravating the already tensed political atmosphere.
In conclusion, let us be reminded that we are all stakeholders in the Nigerian project. As patriotic Nigerians we owe our Fatherland the duty to contribute to its greatness. Therefore, the task of ensuring that this election (and indeed subsequent elections) is free, fair, credible, peaceful and transparent is a task that must be done by all of us.
We thank you all.
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