Elections: Police deploys over 7,000 combined security personnel in Ondo
By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure
The Police in Ondo State has disclosed that it has deployed over 7,000 combined security personnel for the conduct of the 2023 general elections in the State.
- Oyeyemi Oyediran, disclosed this to journalists on Tuesday at a meeting of security heads in Akure on their readiness with other security agencies to cover the Saturday election in the State.
According to Oyediran, the State Command would work with other sister security agencies in the State to ensure that the elections are peaceful.
He said, “Over 7000 combined security personnel are to cover the election. We are assuring the public that we are fully ready for the success of the forthcoming elections.
“I want to inform the public that they should be rest assured that the forthcoming elections are going to be peaceful and we are all ready for that purpose. Thuggery alongside other related vices will not be allowed.
“We have DPOs, Area Commanders, Operation Officers who are in charge of all areas in the State. So, we are fully ready and by the grace of God this election is going to be a successful one.
“We will have free and fair elections, come Saturday, the election is going to be credible. So far so good, we have not arrested anybody in the State for campaign offences and we have been ensuring that two political parties don’t have campaigns on the same day.”
On its part, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it will deploy 17,562 ad hoc personnel to serve in various capacities for the upcoming general election in Ondo state.
The Acting INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in the State, Oyekola Oyelana said, “The commission in Ondo State is deploying 17,562 ad-hoc personnel to serve in various capacities as far the elections is concerned on Saturday.”
Oyelana said the election would be held in 3,933 polling units across 18 local government areas of the State, adding that over 1.7million Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) have been collected, while 303,000 remained uncollected as the collection period elapsed.
He, however, said the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) had been tested to ensure its efficacy and capability to stimulate the electronic transmission of election results during elections.
“As far as the issue of BVAS is concerned, INEC has been sensitising people on the using of this BVAS on the election. BVAS is going to be used for the accreditation alongside with thumbprint, and facial, so we don’t have any problem on this,” Oyelana added.
