Ahead of Saturday governorship election in Edo State, Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, has ordered the restriction of vehicular movement from 11:59PM on Friday, 18th September, 2020 to 6pm on Saturday, 19th September, 2020.
This was made known in a statement issued by Frank Mba, Police Spokesperson, on Thursday.
According to the statement by Mba, the order was “in line with concerted efforts at ensuring public order and safety, during the polls.
“The IGP notes that the restriction order is informed by the need to prevent the free flow, circulation and use of illicit arms and hard drugs and checkmate the movement of political thugs and touts and other criminally-minded individuals especially from contiguous States from hijacking and disrupting the electoral processes,” Mba added.
Adamu further enjoined citizens to go out en-masse on the day of the election and vote, noting that the Police and other security agencies have been sufficiently mobilized to provide a safe, secure and conducive environment for the election.
“While regretting any inconveniences the restriction order may cause the citizens, the IGP enjoins the citizens to see the restriction as part of necessary sacrifices towards the enthronement of democracy,” the force spokesperson added.
“He however warns that the Force will not sit idly-by and watch citizens who may want to engage in any criminal act – violent and destructive acts, snatching of ballot boxes, vote buying, vote selling, hate speeches, and other act(s) capable of compromising the electoral processes.”
