With just six days to the Ondo State Gubernatorial Election, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has assured the public of the Nigeria Police Force’s readiness to ensure a peaceful and orderly voting process across all 18 Local Government Areas, 203 Wards, and 3,933 Polling Units in the state.

According to a statement from Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the IGP confirmed that comprehensive measures have been put in place to support a smooth election, including the strategic deployment of personnel, resources, and advanced equipment.

Officers from specialized units like the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit, K-9 Unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), and Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force (FID-STS) will work alongside other security agencies, strictly adhering to the Electoral Act, 2022.

It added that, to further bolster security, police helicopters will conduct aerial patrols, while gunboats will patrol the waterways and riverine areas, providing coverage across all terrains.

These efforts, according to Egbetokun, aim to deter any attempts to disrupt the electoral process, ensuring stability throughout.

The IGP has also issued a firm warning to political thugs and others considering violence or disruption before, during, or after the election, stating that any such actions will be met with the full force of the law.

The statement stressed that the election security is entrusted solely to the Nigeria Police Force and other federal agencies, excluding any quasi-security groups, including Vigilante Corps or Amotekun.

It added that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with federal security agencies, is committed to upholding electoral integrity and ensuring a smooth, incident-free election in Ondo State.