Ekiti Election: Law Enforcement Pledges to Stem Violence and Electoral Corruption as Voting Equipment is Distributed by INEC

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By Rotimi Ojomoyela

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Ado-Ekiti — The Commissioner of Police in charge of the Ekiti governorship election, Abayomi Shogunle, has vowed that security agencies will clamp down on vote buying, political thuggery and other forms of electoral violence during Saturday’s poll.

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Shogunle gave the assurance on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti during a media engagement organised by the International Press Centre (IPC), saying a comprehensive security arrangement has been deployed across the state to ensure a peaceful and credible election.

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He described vote buying as a criminal act that undermines democratic values and warned politicians, party agents and voters against engaging in it.

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The police commissioner said security personnel had been strategically deployed across Ekiti’s 16 local government areas, with special attention given to identified flashpoints to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

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According to him, no fewer than 460 flashpoints have been identified and heavily reinforced with security operatives.

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“The operational order approved by the Inspector-General of Police is based on a multi-layered security framework,” he said.

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“We have deployed more security personnel to the identified 460 flashpoints across the 16 local government areas. With the security architecture on ground, I am confident the election will be violence-free.”

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Shogunle added that intelligence-led threat assessments, including stakeholder input and monitoring platforms, guided the deployment strategy, with additional measures put in place for vulnerable communities.

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He also disclosed that security had been strengthened at entry and exit points into the state, particularly borders with Kogi and Kwara States.

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“We are monitoring everything coming in and going out of Ekiti State,” he said.

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The police boss announced restriction of vehicular movement on election day, advising voters to walk to polling units, while exempting only those on essential duties.

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He further assured that election materials would be fully protected from the state headquarters down to local government areas, registration areas and polling units.

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“We have adequate security arrangements for everyone. All 2,445 polling units and collation centres will be adequately protected,” he said.

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He added that police officers were already escorting election materials to local government headquarters and would continue providing security until they reached polling units.

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Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive election materials to the 16 local government areas of the state.

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The exercise began around 1:25 a.m. on Thursday at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) branch in Ado-Ekiti under tight security provided by the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

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Election observers, political party representatives and INEC officials monitored the sorting and movement of the materials, which were dispatched first to councils located farther from the state capital, including Ilejemeje, Ayekire, Ido-Osi, Ijero, Ikole, Ekiti East and Emure.

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Police operatives were deployed to escort the buses conveying the materials to ensure their safety.

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The Resident Electoral Commissioner in Ekiti, Bunmi Omoseyindemi, said the process was conducted transparently in the presence of stakeholders.

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“As you can see, we have commenced the distribution of sensitive materials for Saturday’s governorship election. The process is being carried out in a transparent manner in the presence of security agencies, political parties, election observers, media and other stakeholders,” he said.

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He expressed confidence in INEC’s preparedness and urged voters to come out peacefully and exercise their franchise, assuring that the commission remained committed to a credible and fair election.

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Omoseyindemi also commended security agencies for their cooperation, noting that their presence would help ensure safe movement of materials and protect the integrity of the process.

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