The Ekiti State Police Command says it has increased the security protection around the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Ado Ekiti branch, where election materials retrieved following the postponement of elections on Saturday are deposited.
The Police Commissioner, Mr. Asuquo Amba , who said there is no room for security lapses for the success of the forthcoming elections, added that the deployment of more security men was to safeguard the sensitive materials kept in the bank .
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday retrieved electoral materials deployed for the conduct of the National Assembly and presidential elections earlier scheduled for February 16 across all the 16 local government areas of the state.
INEC took the decision sequel to the postponement of the elections to February 23, citing logistical problems.
Speaking with journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday, Amba assured all the political parties that the materials are under safe custody and thorough security protection.
Amba, who spoke via the Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu, said: “If you visit the CBN office in Ekiti now, you will see more security men around the place. We are cognisant of the fact that security lapses could mar these coming polls and we are guarding against that.
“As we speak, we have drafted more mobile policemen and our men from.the Special Protection Unit(SPU) , who are specially trained on how to protect election materials are there.
“We are working round the clock to block all loopholes criminals can use to truncate the process here in any, so there is no cause for worry .
“Our people, particularly all parties should be rest assured that we shall ensure that all the materials are delivered to the designated points, no room for diversion”, he said.
The CP commended the residents for their peaceful dispositions, disclosing that the command has not arrested anyone in connection with any form of violence since the electioneering begin in the state.
On the allegations raised by the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) , Barrister Gboyega Oguntuase, that his members were attacked in Igbara Odo and Omuo Ekiti by suspected party thugs, Amba said : “We have not received any formal petition from the party concerning this.
“This command is apolitical and neutral, so if we have any evidence of attack by any party, we are going to investigate and whoever found culpable shall be arrested and prosecuted accordingly”, he stated.
Amba added that the three other commissioners of police deployed in Ekiti by the Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu for the purpose of the election have been asked to temporarily return to Abuja due to the postponement.
“They have been asked to return to Abuja temporarily and by Thursday, they will return to Ekiti. The essence of their presence in the state was to make sure we have strong security across the three senatorial districts, because each commissioner is to man each of the districts for better performances of our men”, he said.
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