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Elections: IGP orders restriction of movement on election day

Ezekiel Johnson
Ezekiel Johnson
CDWR to IGP: Free Fauzziyar Isiak unconditionally now
Alkali Baba Usman

Ahead of the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day.

Exception is however given to those on essential services such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC; electoral observers; ambulances responding to medical emergencies; firefighters, and others in the category.

The announcement was made in a statement signed by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The police spokesman said the order which was part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections, was aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process.

Similarly, he said, the IGP sternly warned all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting the directive would be severely sanctioned.

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He emphasized that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties were to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.

He said also that the ban on the unauthorized use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses was still in force, and violators would be sanctioned appropriately.

All state-established and owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits, he added, were also barred from participating in election security management.

He said while empathizing with well-meaning citizens on the inconveniences the restriction might cause, the IGP urged all active electorate to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise.

He however warned that the Force would deal decisively with any individual(s) or group(s) that might want to test “our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election.”

He said the IGP, therefore, enjoined all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s) as the Force and other security agencies would leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), were brought to book.

The spokesman added that the Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urged all members of the public to contact the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ available on Android and ios, or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request security response.

Similarly, other joint operations/election situation room numbers, he said, would be released by all State Police Commands respectively, for emergency contact.

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