Steer clear of Ondo governorship poll, IGP tells Amotekun

Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police, says “comprehensive plans” have been made to ensure a peaceful governorship election in Ondo. 

He added that the police would not be needing the help of Amotekun, the south-west security outfit.

The election will hold on November 16.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, force spokesperson, said the IGP has ordered the “strategic deployment of adequate personnel, resources, and state-of-the-art equipment” for the election.

He said officers from various specialised units, including the special intervention squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), counter-terrorism unit (CTU), special protection unit (SPU), explosive ordinance disposal unit, K-9 unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), and Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force (FID-STS) are working with other security agencies to ensure orderliness during the vote.

The police spokesperson said officers will “adhere strictly” to the guidelines of the Electoral Act 2022 to ensure fairness and transparency.

“In addition to ground personnel, aerial patrols will be conducted with police helicopters, while gunboats will patrol the state’s waterways and riverine areas to ensure security across all terrains,” the statement reads.

“These comprehensive measures will serve as a deterrent to any attempt to disrupt the electoral process and will enhance the overall stability of the elections.

“The IGP has also issued a stern warning to political thugs and any individuals or groups who may contemplate acts of violence or disruption before, during, or after the election: they will face the full force of the law.

“The message is clear — those who attempt to jeopardize the peace and security of the state will not go unpunished.

“Furthermore, the IGP reaffirmed the established guidelines governing election security management in Nigeria, stressing that no quasi-security organization, including state-backed groups like Vigilante Corps or Amotekun, will be permitted to participate in the election process.”