Police promise adequate security during election - INEC

The Police on Friday said that adequate security personnel would be deployed to the 1,886 polling units in the FCT during Saturday’s election.

The Commissioner of Police in the territory, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, said this when security forces involved in the election gathered for final rehearsal for deployment.

Inalegwu is the chairman of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in the FCT.

The committee comprises the police, military, Department of State Security Service (DSS) and all para-military organisations in the territory.

Inalegwu said all entry and exit points to the FCT were being manned by security personnel, carrying out a stop-and-search, as well as motorized patrol to forestall any eventuality.

“All the patrols are harmonized so that we can achieve effective result.

“Our plan is based on threat analysis developed by the security agencies and harmonized; we look at flash points and areas we need to pay particular attention to,” he said.

Inalegwu also said that during the exercise, rapid response teams would be stationed at strategic areas of the territory to respond to any breach of security.

“No one will be allowed to canvass for vote at the polling stations; there will be no wearing of party logos, no shouting of party slogans.

“No one will be allowed to carry arm to the polling units.

“And as you approach the polling units, there will be body search so that we have the right people to go and vote.

“There will be no use of siren; no big man will be allowed to drive in a motorcade to the polling station, no uniform personnel will be allow to escort them.

Inalegwu advised people in the territory to respect the restriction of movement ordered by the Inspector-General of Police during the election, warning that those who violate the directive would face the law.

It will be recalled that the commissioner had in a recent statement warned private and voluntary organisations, such as Boys Scout, Man O War, Boys Brigade and the likes to stay away from polling centres on election day.