By CHIDI NKWOPARA

OWERRI – Imo State Police Command is to deploy about 6,000 of its personnel and about 4,000 other paramilitary staff to help maintain peace and security during the general elections in the state.

Disclosing this during a press briefing in Owerri, the new Commissioner of Police, Mr Tambari Yabo Mohammed, also confirmed that he was moved from his Kano State base to superintend over the security situation in the state while the general polls last.

The Imo police boss also warned that no politician would be allowed to move to the polling centre with any armed orderly, pointing out that “any politician and orderly who violate the directive will be commensurately disciplined”.

He further warned that “any politician who is caught with arms will be made to face the full weight of the law.”

He added that all the loopholes identified during last Saturday’s botched parliamentary polls had been blocked.
Mohammed also reminded Imo people that movement will be restricted on all voting days and appealed to voters to choose between staying in their homes or remain in the polling booths where they registered to vote.

….As govt warns trouble makers

Also, the  Imo State government has advised those planning to create confusion, incite violence or disrupt the election in the state to have a rethink or risk facing the full weight of the law.

The Governor, Chief Ikedi Ohakim, who read the riot act in a pre-election day radio and television broadcast he tagged “go and vote according to your conscience”, also announced a public holiday to enable voters to travel to where they registered.

He said: “On election day, movements from one polling booth to another will be restricted. All markets, shops, motor parks and all business premises must remain closed.”

Directing that all vehicular movement is prohibited, except those on official duties, the Governor also warned that those who have no business with the elections to stay away from the polling booths.