Ahead of the Saturday, November 16 gubernatorial election in Ondo State, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has banned security aides and escorts from accompanying VIPs into polling booths and collation centers, News About Nigeria reports.
The ban was made public in a statement released by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, on Thursday.
In the statement, Adejobi noted that the IGP has put in place comprehensive security measures to ensure a peaceful, free, and credible election.
He also revealed that Egbetokun has deployed the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Sylvester Alabi, as the coordinating DIG for the election.
The police spokesperson further disclosed that the IGP also named Assistant Inspector-General Bennett Igweh and Commissioner of Police Tunji Disu as AIG and CP for the election.
He further announced the restriction of all forms of movement in Ondo State from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, with the exception of essential workers and service providers.
The statement partly reads, “In preparation for the elections, the IGP has deployed DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi as the coordinating DIG for the elections, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period, while AIG Bennett Igweh, mni, and CP Tunji Disu are deployed as AIG and CP for the elections, respectively.
“As part of the security framework, there will be a restriction of all vehicular movements on roads, waterways, and other means of transportation from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Election Day, with the exception of those on essential services, such as ambulances, media officials, fire services, and other accredited media.
“Furthermore, security aides and escorts attached to VIPs are banned from accompanying VIPs to polling booths and collation centers to prevent disruptions. Unauthorized security personnel and quasi-security agencies will not be permitted to operate during the election, and a strict ban on the use of sirens by unauthorized vehicles will be enforced.”
The police also tasked residents in the state to comply with security directives and report all suspicious activities before, during, and after the elections.
