YENAGOA, ABUJA, LAGOS, Federal Republic of Nigeria [Report by Igoniko Oduma (Yenagoa), Hassan Zaggi, Rotimi Akinwumi, Tony Ezimakor (Abuja) and Emmanuel Udom (Lagos)]
Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and other stakeholders have expressed readiness to ensure free, fair and hitch-free exercise.
This is just as the Federal Government on Thursday announced closure of all land and sea borders.
The INEC said it has moved all sensitive electoral materials including ballot papers and results sheets to states ready for their collection from various branches of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
In Bayelsa State, the INEC has disclosed that it would deploy about 8,300 ad hoc staff for the conduct of the presidential and governorship elections on March 28 and April 11.
INEC’s Head of Public Affairs, Timidi Wariowei, disclosed this on Wednesday during a chat with Daily Independent in his office in Yenagoa.
He did not give a breakdown of the figure but said the commission had since taken delivery of non-sensitive election materials and distributed the same to registration area centres across the eight local government areas of the state.
Wariowei said the state INEC would today receive sensitive election materials including ballot papers and results sheets from the CBN.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, on his part, warned politicians and Very Important Personalities (VIPs) against going to polling units with armed orderlies on the day of the election.
Abba also said the use of siren, revolving lights, tinted glasses by unauthorised citizens would not be allowed.
In a statement by the Force Spokesman, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Abba, also ordered all uniformed private/government security agencies and voluntary organisations not to be seen in uniform within 300 metres of polling units.
Such uniformed private/government security agencies, according to the IGP, include Boys Scouts, Vigilante Groups, Boys Brigade, Peace Ambassadors and Man O’ War.
He further restated the restriction of vehicular movement during the general elections on March 28 and April 11, 2015, respectively.
The restriction, he reiterated, would be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both election days.
The statement further noted: “The IGP wishes to reassure the public of the commitment of the Force to the provision of round-the-clock security before, during and after the general elections for the teeming citizens of the country.
The IGP again warned all Police officers and men detailed for election duties to ensure they work in line with the Police Code of Ethics and international best practices, just as he called on them to display unflinching loyalty to the Federal Republic of Nigeria at all times.
He warned all Police officers to be firm, meticulous and ensure that nothing untoward happens within their areas of jurisdiction during the general elections.
He further cautioned Police officers to shun any conduct capable of staining the image of the Force, as he assured of appropriate sanctions for erring personnel.
Meanwhile, the Department of State Service (DSS) on Wednesday urged Nigerians not to fret over the Presidential election, asking all to take part in the election without fear.
The service in a statement, however, warned all to be mindful and not run foul of the law.
All eligible voters were also advised to be on the watch out for strange persons who might likely be terrorists.
The DSS Deputy Director, Public Relations, Marilyn Oga, in the statement advised “all registered voters to go out and exercise their civic responsibility as security is guaranteed.”
In another development, the Lagos State Police Command has commenced the disbursement of special elections duty allowances to all the police officers serving in all the 98 divisions in the state.
Our correspondent, who was at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters on Wednesday, observed that Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) and Police Area Commanders from all the divisions and units converged at the headquarters to collect their share of the money for onward delivery to all the officers serving in their divisions or units.
Some police officers, who spoke off record with our correspondent said that Constable to Sergeant received N15, 000 each, Inspectors got N20,000 each, while Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) to Chief Superintendent of Police received N25,000 each.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government in a statement signed on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior announced the closure of all land and sea borders.
The Perm Sec, Magaji, said closure takes effect from midnight March 25 to midnight Saturday March 28, 2015.
He explained the closure of the borders was “to allow for the peaceful conduct of the forthcoming national elections”.
