The Ekiti State Police Command has announced restriction of inter-state and intra-state vehicular movements across the state on Saturday, being governorship election day.
The Command stated that “the restriction takes effect from 12am to 6pm on election day and shall affect all roads within the state and inter-state highways. This standard measure is part of the comprehensive security arrangements aimed at ensuring a violence-free election”.
However, the Command, in a statement by its Police Public Relations Officer, Sunday Abutu, on Friday, stated that students/candidates taking national structured examinations/assessment were not affected and should proceed to their centres accordingly.
Abutu stated, “This vehicular movement restriction is expected to prevent the movement of political thugs and other criminal elements who may attempt to disrupt the electoral process.
“The restriction applies to all forms of motorized transportations, including private cars, commercial vehicles, trucks, tricycles and motorcycles. All intending inter-state travelers planning to travel through any part of Ekiti State are advised to take alternative routes during the stated period.
“However, persons on essential duties such as designated INEC staff and ad-hoc staff, accredited journalists, local and foreign election observers, medical personnel, emergency responders and essential services providers are exempted and allowed to use the roads accordingly.nSuch persons must carry valid identification and clearance tags.
“Medical emergency movements are also allowed during this stated period.
The movement of VIPs with armed escorts or security aides to polling units and collation centres is strictly discouraged and will not be allowed.
“Quasi-security groups, vigilantes and volunteers groups are strictly prohibited from rendering any form of security services at any polling unit or collating centre throughout the election period. Due to safety reasons, this notice also serves as a binding advice on construction companies to pause all forms of actual road work construction during the stated period.
“Only officers and personnel of security agencies and agencies that are members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) are permitted to provide security in and around all designated election facilities.”
The command urged the residents to comply with this measure designed to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for voters to freely exercise their rights to vote.
It further said the command, in collaboration with other security agencies, will not hesitate to deal decisively with any individual or group that attempts to violate the order or undermine the peace of the state.
This is as the Commissioner of Police Ekiti State Governorship Election, Dr Abayomi Shogunle, urged registered voters “to come out and vote, everyone to remain law-abiding and cooperate with security personnel who have been adequately deployed across the State to maintain law and order”.
Shogunle assured all residents and stakeholders of the Nigeria Police unwavering commitment to safeguarding lives and property before, during, and after the election.
The police called on residents to report any suspicious movement or security concerns to the nearest police station/security agency or call the police emergency line 08062335577.