Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has asked political gladiators, ahead of the Ekiti governorship election, to place as priority the country’s national security, vowing to deal with any politician or their supporters who disrupt the election process.

“Those who want to constitute a clog in the will of progress will face the consequences of their actions. National security should be of priority and uppermost in our minds. Let us conduct this election in the most civil manner,” said Mr Baba. 

The IGP spoke on Tuesday in Ekiti, during a stakeholders meeting, held with the political parties participating in the upcoming governorship election. 

Mr Baba said no individual, with parochial interest, would be allowed by the police to cause violence during the election, slated for this Saturday, June 18. 

He noted that the contingent of 17,317 officers of the Nigeria Police and machine assets deployed for the Ekiti election, was not to scare away voters nor cause apathy.  

Mr Baba added that the deployment was to stop the governorship election from being disrupted by political thugs and to protect the sanctity of the ballots.

He assured that the police would ensure the election was credible and acceptable to all. He advised the candidates to reign in their supporters and maintain peace.

“All the 177 wards and 2,445 polling units will be manned by appropriate manpower. Let me say this, the massive deployment is not to scare the citizens, but to protect the sanctity of the ballots and the provisions of the Electoral Act

“All the parties must embrace the virtues of democracy. We will not allow any person or group of persons to disrupt this election no matter how highly placed. 

“Let all the contenders provide moral leadership so that we can achieve success together,” the police chief said.

A total of 16 political parties would be participating in Saturday’s governorship election.

The IGP had on Sunday, deployed human and machine assets, including four helicopters, five Armoured Personnel Carriers, and four Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for the election. 

Deputy Inspector General of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Department, is expected to lead supervision of the election process.