Agboola Ajayi, the PDP governorship candidate in the November 16 Ondo election, has asked security agencies in the state to ensure a level playing ground as the political parties begin their campaigns. 

Mr Ajayi, who spoke during his visit on Wednesday to Oluyemi Ibiloye, NSCDC commandant in Ondo, said the security agencies must ensure their neutrality throughout the electioneering exercise in the state. 

He explained that the security agencies have to perform their job professionally while assuring that the members of the opposition PDP in the state would not violate the laws guiding the electoral process but behave themselves in a civil manner. 

“We are appealing to you to help ensure that all political parties conduct themselves in line with the laid-down rules and Electoral Act. 

“Election is a process, and we can assure you that PDP is a law-abiding party, and we won’t allow any of our supporters to involve themselves in any unlawful act. If such happens, they should be arrested and prosecuted,” said the politician. 

Remarking, the state commander of the NSCDC, Ibiloye, reiterated the commitment of his command and officers to a peaceful gubernatorial election in the state. 

According to him, the civil defence would be working with other sister security agencies in the state to ensure a violence-free exercise in collaboration with leaders of the political parties. 

While explaining that officers of the command had been warned to be apolitical during the election, Mr Ibiloye said his men recently participated in the security and peace summit involving security agencies, political parties, unions, civil societies and traditional institutions. 

“I know the importance of peace, l tell you most sincerely, we are expected to be apolitical, and that is exactly what l stand for. Election violence has created lots of problems for Nigerians, and the innocents bear the brunt.

“The security agencies in Ondo state have a formidable team, and we have started way back before this time, identifying black spots and areas that are prone to election violence,” Mr Ibiloye said.