•IGP, DHQ deploy DIG, AIG, CP Disu, troops, govt declares work-free day
By Christopher Oji, Molly Kilete, Abuja and Bamigbola Gbolagunte, Akure
The Independence National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it has distributed sensitive materials to the 18 local government areas in Ondo State ahead of the November 16 governorship election in the state.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) , Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola, monitored the exercise at the Akure branch of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
She said the early distribution of the sensitive materials was to show that the commission was ready for the election.
She said the sensitive materials were distributed to ensure that no ward or polling unit was omitted.
She reassured residents, political parties and all stakeholders of the commission’s readiness to conduct a transparent, free and fair election.
“We promise that the commission will be transparent in the conduct of the election. You can see that the distribution exercise is going on very smoothly.”
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Ade Adetimehin, and the state chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Adesanya Olaoluwa, commended INEC for its transparency in the exercise.
The duo said all the parties were ready to cooperate with the commission.
Representatives of the political parties participating in the election and the security agencies, including the Police, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence corps (NSCDC), the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Immigration, the Customs and the Department of State Service (DSS) were at the venue of the exercise.
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has announced comprehensive security measures during the upcoming Ondo off-season gubernatorial elections on Saturday, November 16, 2024.
A statement by the Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, explained that in preparation for the elections, the IGP has deployed the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Sylvester Abiodun Alabi, as the coordinating DIG for the elections.
The FPRO said Alabi was tasked with overseeing the implementation of the police security strategies to maintain law and order throughout the electoral period, while Assistant Inspector General (AIG), Bennett Igweh and the Commissioner of Police (CP) Tunji Disu, were deployed as AIG and CP elections respectively.
Similarly, the Defence Headquarters has deployed troops to provide assistance to the police.
The Director, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. Edward Buba, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
Buba said the presence of troops was to ensure security of citizens while enabling them to cast their votes without any form of harassment or intimidation, while keeping mischief makers at bay.
He added that the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) was already engaged in flying sensitive election material in support of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ondo State government has declared as work free day for public servants to enable them prepare for the Saturday’s governorship election.
The political parties contesting the election are the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which is fielding the incumbent Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa and the Peoples Democratic Party that is fielding the former Deputy Governor of the state, Agboola Ajayi.
Others are the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) with Gbenga Edema as its candidate, the Labour Party (LP) fielding Sola Ebiseni, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) fielding Bamidele and the Zenith Labour Party fielding Dr Abass Mimiko.
The state government said the public holiday will allow civil servants and other workers who plan to travel to their various communities for the election do so.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary in charge of the office of the State Head of Service, Mr O. F Ayodele directed all Accounting Officers across all the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to allow their staff stay at home on Friday.
