By Peter Duru
Makurdi – The Deputy Inspector General of Police in Charge of Elections in the North Central Geo-Political Zone, Mr. Godwin Nwobodo has disclosed that a total of 11 Police Commissioners have been drafted to Benue state to conduct the Governorship and State House of Assembly elections .

A Nigerian police SWAT personnel member sits alert with a machine gun on a vehicle stationed at the entrance of Rivers State collation centre in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria, on February 26, 2019. – Incumbent Muhammadu Buhari kept a lead over his main rival in the race to become Nigeria’s next president, with nearly half of all states declared. The death toll from violence linked to the vote meanwhile increased from 39 to 47, according to the Situation Room umbrella group of civil society election monitors. AFP

He said the number comprised of 5 Commissioners, 4 Deputy Commissioners and 2 Assistant Commissioners of Police who by law are all Police Commissioners, would oversee elections in the three senatorial districts of the state and specific local government areas identified as flash-points.

DIG Nwobodo who made the disclosure Friday in Makurdi, said elections would be supervised by the Police commissioners in selected local government areas including Agatu, Logo, Gwer-West, Gwer East, Katsina-Ala, Okpokwu, Ukum and Guma.

He however debunked claims by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, that the heavy deployment which was targeted at PDP strongholds was intended to aid the rigging of the polls by the All Progressives Congress, APC, insisting that the deployment was to ensure peaceful conduct of the polls.

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According to him, “I do not know and cannot fathom how any group or any political party can convince themselves that those who voted for them in a particular election will not vote against them in another one. It does not follow.

“I am not saying they will vote against them, what I’m saying in essence is that we cannot rely on guess work that this is my area they use to vote for me that is why they are deploying security to that area.

“Supposing those people are deployed to protect their votes, to ensure that their votes are adequately protected, have they also imagined that as well?

“There is always two sides to a coin, if you think that security is being deployed to rig against you, why don’t you also think that security is being deployed so that my votes will be protected. Does it not follow, is it not logical?”

Continuing, DIG Nwobodo said, “credible election enthrones good governance and good governance serves the greater good for the citizens. Election should therefore not be a do or die affair.

“As security agencies, we have a responsibility to police the rules and regulations set out by the election managers-Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. These set of rules/regulations are provided for in the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act, INEC Guidelines / Regulations and all other extant laws.

“All stakeholders are therefore advised to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations governing the conduct of tomorrow’s election so as to avoid infractions with the law.

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“For the avoidance of doubt, the restriction of vehicular movements must be enforced. Only officials on essential/emergency duties and duly identified will be allowed access.

“No form of violence, thuggery, voter intimidation, vote buying, brigandage, bearing arms/weapons offensive to good conduct will be tolerated or allowed.

“Tampering with election materials, hijack of ballot boxes and other disruptive tendencies targeted at truncating the electoral process will be met with stiff resistance

“Police personnel attached to political office holders and or Politically Exposed Persons are expected to have returned their arms to the Police Headquarters and deployed for election duties today. Any personnel caught in contravention of this all important directive from the Inspector General of Police will be arrested and dealt with summarily.

“Collation Centers are meant for authorized persons only. All Political Parties and candidates are to be represented by their accredited Agents only. Sympathizers or party faithfuls and all other unauthorized persons are advised in their own interest to keep off Collation Centers.

“The Benue State Command has deployed 7, 480 Police personnel plus personnel from other security agencies to cover the 23 Local Government Areas of the State made up of 3, 688 Polling Units.

“Apart from personnel that shall be deployed to the Polling Units/Voting Points. Tactical Operations personnel have also been deployed to checkmate the activities of hoodlums and criminal elements who may be determined to truncate the electoral process.

“Furthermore, a total number of “5 Commissioners, 4 Deputy Commissioners and 2 Assistant Commissioners of Police are already in the State to man strategic Senatorial Districts and Local Government Areas identified as flashpoints.

These deployments are friendly, proactive and not aimed at any person(s) or group(s).

“As the lead security agency in election security management, the Police shall continuously appreciate the supporting assistance being rendered by the military and other security agencies in ensuring a violence free, fair and credible election.

“I am convinced that we are prepared for the 2019 Governorship and State House Assembly Elections in Benue State.”