In furtherance of strategies designed to prevent electoral fraud and violence and ensure hitch-free governorship election in Bayelsa State and the supplementary election in Kogi State, the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has placed an order restricting movements in the two states.
The elections will take place on Saturday. While the restriction of movement for Bayelsa State is around its boundaries and with effect from 6am to 6pm on Saturday, that of Kogi State involved intra-city restriction of vehicular movement in areas where supplementary election will be conducted.
It is also from 6am to 6pm.
A statement on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, however, said persons on essential duties such as ambulance service providers, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission on duty, security men, accredited election monitors/observers, accredited journalists and such others are not affected by the order.
While imploring the general public for their understanding and cooperation towards the enforcement of this order, Olabisi said the order is informed by the need to forestall plans by criminal elements to undermine the electoral process as gathered through intelligence reports.
She added in the statement: “The Nigeria Police Force advises that travellers should take advantage of alternative routes to their destinations where necessary within the hours of this restriction of vehicular movement on Saturday 5th December, 2015, as Police, complemented by the military and other security agents on duty at strategic points will subject motorists and other travellers plying the affected routes to civil and meticulous security search.
“The IGP, while assuring all law-abiding electorates of a secure and enabling environment to exercise their franchise, warns all security details to refrain from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election, as only security personnel specially assigned for election duties must be seen within and around the election designated places.”
