Edo Election: Police Boss Asks 24,000 Deployed Officials To Remain Apolitical

Officials of the Nigerian Police Force, 24,000 of them, deployed in Edo State to ensure security of lives and property during the election have been asked to remain apolitical.

In a statement on Monday by the spokesman for the police, Mr Don Awunah, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, warned officers and men to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the Nigerian police.

He stated that the rescheduled elections had not only afforded the police the opportunity to prepare, but had also provided an avenue to ensure a free, fair, credible and secured electoral process.

Mr Idris also warned that the police would be firm and decisive in dealing with any infractions of the law and actions and activities that constitute breach of peace and contrary to public order.

Movement has been restricted in the state on Wednesday, September 28 in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

However, the state government has declared Tuesday, September 27 and the election day work free days to enable voters travel to their voting wards.

The electoral body has on Monday taken delivery of sensitive materials for the election, but heavy rain affected the distribution of the materials to the local councils.

Materials would be distributed to the 18 local government areas of Edo State.

Nineteen political parties are contesting in the election to produce a successor for Governor Adams Oshiomhole of the All Progressives Congress.

It is few days to the election that was shifted by the INEC after security agencies issued security alerts, advising the electoral body to postpone the election.