The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has issued a directive prohibiting the Ondo State security outfit known as Amotekun, along with other vigilante groups, from taking part in the upcoming governorship election scheduled for Saturday.
This decision has raised concerns among local communities about security and the role of these groups in maintaining peace during the electoral process.
A statement issued on Sunday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said that “no quasi-security organisation, including state-backed groups like Vigilante Corps or Amotekun, will be permitted to participate in the election process.”
Egbetokun stated that the ban aligns with the established guidelines governing election security management in Nigeria.
The statement said that”The security of this election is a responsibility entrusted solely to the Nigeria Police Force and other federal security agencies, along with the broader membership of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).”
Egbetokun also warned political thugs and any individuals or groups who might contemplate acts of violence or disruption before, during or after the election.
He vowed that they would face the full force of the law.
According to him “The message is clear—those who attempt to jeopardise the peace and security of the state will not go unpunished.”
The IGP assured the people of the state of the police’s readiness to ensure a peaceful and orderly election process across all the 18 local government areas, 203 wards and 3,933 polling units in the state.
He said that “comprehensive plans had been set in motion to guarantee a smooth election including the strategic deployment of adequate personnel, resources and state-of-the-art equipment.
“The deployment will see officers from various specialised units, including the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, K-9 Unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), and Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force (FID-STS), working in concert with other security agencies.
“These agencies will adhere strictly to the guidelines of the Electoral Act, 2022, ensuring that all measures taken align with the principles of fairness, transparency, and order.
“In addition to ground personnel, aerial patrols will be conducted with police helicopters, while gunboats will patrol the state’s waterways and riverine areas to ensure security across all terrains.
“These comprehensive measures will serve as a deterrent to any attempt to disrupt the electoral process and will enhance the overall stability of the elections.
“The Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with other federal security agencies, remains committed, vigilant, and fully prepared to ensure that the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election proceeds smoothly, without incident, and in accordance with the highest standards of electoral integrity.”
