lGP bans Amotekun from Ondo election

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has taken a decisive stance ahead of the upcoming Ondo State governorship election by barring the participation of the state-backed security outfit Amotekun, along with other vigilante groups. This directive, issued on Sunday through Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explicitly prohibits any quasi-security agencies from engaging in election-related activities.

Egbetokun emphasized that the responsibility for election security rests solely with the Nigeria Police Force and its allied federal security agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES). He reiterated that these measures are in strict compliance with Nigeria’s election security protocols, aiming to prevent any undue interference or bias during the electoral process.

In a stern warning to political thugs and troublemakers, the IGP vowed severe consequences for any attempts to disrupt the election before, during, or after the voting period. “The message is clear: anyone who threatens the peace and stability of this election will be met with the full force of the law,” Egbetokun declared.

To reassure the public, he outlined an extensive security plan that includes the deployment of specialized police units such as the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), and the Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU). Additionally, resources like K-9 units, Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams, and federal intelligence units will be mobilized to cover all 18 local government areas, 203 wards, and over 3,900 polling units across the state.

Further enhancing security, aerial patrols using police helicopters and gunboat patrols in riverine areas are set to bolster efforts on land and water. The IGP assured that these measures are designed to ensure a peaceful, transparent, and credible election in strict adherence to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.

“The Nigeria Police Force, in partnership with other federal agencies, remains resolute in its mission to secure a fair and orderly election. Our comprehensive security framework aims to protect the integrity of the electoral process, ensuring voters’ safety and peace of mind throughout the election period,” Egbetokun concluded.