Address by the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Olukayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D, NPM, at the signing of Peace Accord for the Ondo State Governorship Election 2024, held at ICC, The Dome, Akure, Ondo State, on 8th November, 2024
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| Address by IGP Kayode Egbetokun on the occasion of the signing of peace accord ahead of the Ondo State Governorship Election 2024 at The Dome, Akure on Friday 8 November, 2024 |
Protocols
It is with great honor, utmost sense of responsibility and commitment to duty that I address this gathering today as I join other Heads of the National Security and Intelligence Agencies to record a significant and pivotal moment in the Nation’s history, by signing this peace accord.
As we stand on the brink of the upcoming off-cycle gubernatorial election in Ondo State, it is imperative to proactively reiterate and be familiar with the responsibilities and engagements of the Police as the lead agency in Election Security Management in Nigeria as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2022, to maintain the credibility and integrity of our democratic process.
The Nigeria Police Force is set for the governorship election in Ondo State with adequate preparations and measures emplaced for the success of the exercise. In this regard, the Police will deploy its available human and material assets to secure the 18 LGAs, 203 Wards, and 3,933 Polling Units of the State.
2. PERSONNEL DEPLOYMENT
A detailed Operation Order for the election has been prepared with adequate Police personnel to be deployed. The Nigeria Police will deploy a total of 34,657 personnel to the polling units, wards/LGA collation centers as well as other strategic locations. It is expected that Four (4) Police personnel will be deployed at each polling unit, which then implies that 15,732 conventional police personnel will be required for the 3,933 polling units and voting points in the State. This will be complemented by the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Security Agencies and other sister Security Agencies. A total of Eight thousand, five hundred (8,500) personnel from the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Correctional Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency will be deployed to augment the Police strength. This will bring the total number of security personnel deployed for the election to 43,157.
3. ACTIVITIES DONE SO FAR BY THE POLICE
The Nigeria Police Force, in consultation with other Federal Security Services, has undertaken a number of steps towards the successful conduct of the election. These include:
i. Threat analysis of flash/vulnerable points in Ondo State is being constantly reviewed to enable the Force deploy both human and material assets effectively.
ii. Operation Order has been drawn and already distributed to the agencies for effective synergy and collaboration. This serves as a guide for effective personnel and logistics deployment.
iii. Inter-Agency consultation and collaboration at the national level, on the election is ongoing and this has been replicated in the state.
iv. There Police Election Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Team has visited Ondo state for on-the-spot assessment and verification of threat analysis and other arrangements towards conducting a hitch-free election.
4. MISSION:
Given the importance of this gubernatorial election, the Force is resolutely committed to achieving the following:
a. Provide level playing ground for all contesting candidates irrespective of party affiliation or status;
b. Ensure that all electoral campaigns/rallies are peacefully held and in accordance with laid down laws and regulations;
c. Ensuring secured environment for successful and peaceful conduct of elections throughout the state;
d. Provision of adequate security for election officials and materials from all ”take-off” points to their respective destinations and vice versa;
e. Maintenance of law and order at all polling stations and collation centers;
f. Identify and appropriately curtail the activities of groups especially militia groups which have the potential to be used for violence during the electioneering period;
g. Ensure that all participants and other citizens comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act of 2020 as amended and other statute laws of the Federation;
h. Render all necessary assistance to INEC officials to facilitate the discharge of their responsibilities;
i. Provide adequate contingency plans to contain any crisis that may directly or indirectly arise before, during or after the conduct of the election;
j. Collaborate with all stakeholders and other security agencies to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.
5. THE ROLE OF THE POLICE DURING ELECTIONS
The role of the Police is classified into Pre-election, Election and Post-Election phases.
5.1. Pre-Election:
In the pre-election phase, it is important to state that the parties have successfully conducted their primaries and candidates picked as well. The Police was able to guarantee safety of lives and property. Thus, the stage is set for election proper as political parties, campaigns/rallies were regulated to ensure preservation of law and order.
(b) Early identification and sweeping of venues of political rallies ahead of events to rid the venues of suspected explosives and/or other harmful substances.
5.2. During Election:
On 16th of November, 2024, the day fixed for the gubernatorial election, the Nigeria Police, complimented by other sister security agencies are expected to:
(a) Provide adequate security for electoral materials at storage centres, during transportation, distribution and security/escort for INEC officials.
(b) Ensure each Polling Unit is provided with at least five Policemen/Security personnel.
(c) Provide adequate security at Ward, LGA and State collation centres.
(d) Deploy vehicular patrols to secure Wards, LGA and State levels by enforcing restriction of movements and ward off any anticipated disruptions by hoodlums.
(e) Patrol all nooks and crannies to restrict movement and checkmate possible cause of mayhem.
(f) Provide adequate security for electoral officials, local/international Observers and voters to avoid any breakdown of law and order.
(g) Provide standby Units to serve as rapid response teams in case of threat and emergencies.
5.3. After Election:
(a) There will be close monitoring of collation of results at all levels and where necessary, promptly attend to any plan to tamper with results or any fraud affecting it,
(b) All duly signed copies of election results from INEC officials will be collected,
(c) Surveillance and intelligence gathering will be emplaced pro-actively to forestall any breach of the peace in response to announcement of election results,
(d) Contingency arrangements will be made to contain any breach of the peace that may follow reactions to the announcement or declaration of results/winners,
(e) All Police Stations, Formations and Barracks will be protected from possible attacks/negative reactions that may follow the release of election results,
(f) Security will be provided for members of the public at venues of Election Tribunals,
(g) Evidence will be given at the Election Tribunals if necessary,
(h) All electoral offenders will be arrested and prosecuted,
(i) Strategic plan in general management of post-election crises has been put in place.
6. ELECTION DAY OFFENCES
The following shall constitute offences on Election Day as stipulated in Sec. 129 of the Electoral Act:
(a) Canvassing for votes
(b) Soliciting for the vote of any voter,
(c) Persuading any voter not to vote for any particular candidate,
(d) Shouting slogans concerning a political party,
(e) Being in possession of any offensive weapon or wearing any dress or having any facial or other decorations which in any event is calculated to intimidate voters,
(f) Exhibiting, wearing or tendering any notice, symbol, photograph or party card referring to the election,
(g) Using any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party by any means whatsoever,
(h) Loitering without lawful excuse after voting or being refused to vote,
(i) Snatching or destroying any election materials,
(j) Blaring siren
(k) Convening, holding or attending any public meetings during the hours of poll,
(l) Operating any megaphone or any public address apparatus except for making official announcements,
(m) Wearing or carrying any badge, poster, banner, or symbol relating to a political party or to the election.
7. LOGISTICS DEPLOYMENTS
The Police will timeously provide enough Armoured Personnel Carrier (APCs), Trucks, Patrol Vehicles, Buses for covert operations, Ambulances, Helicopters, Drones, K9 and anti-riot equipment to complement the strength of Ondo State Command. It is expected that all measures will be emplaced on or before Monday, November 11, 2024.
Thank you for your attention.
ADDRESS BY THE INSPECTOR GENERAL OF POLICE, IGP. OLUKAYODE ADEOLU EGBETOKUN, Ph.D., NPM, AT THE SIGNING OF PEACE ACCORD FOR THE ONDO STATE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION 2024, HELD AT ICC, THE DOME, AKURE, ONDO STATE, ON 8TH NOVEMBER,2024
Protocols
It is with great honor, utmost sense of… pic.twitter.com/LKlv6bZEal— INEC Nigeria (@inecnigeria) November 8, 2024
