The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Enugu State, Kanayo Uzuegbu, has warned troublemakers and anti-social groups to avoid the state’s local government elections on Saturday.

Mr Uzuegbu issued the warning in Enugu on Friday during a joint security meeting of all heads of security agencies in the state in conclusion of security arrangements ahead of the elections.

The Enugu State Independent Electoral Commission (ENSIEC) had slated elections across 4,145 polling units and 260 wards of the state’s 17 council areas.

According to him, troublemakers and anti-social groups who may want to foment trouble and cause a breach of peace during the elections will be dealt with summarily.

He said the security agencies, working jointly, were fully committed to peaceful, fair and credible elections.

“The security agencies will not spare anyone obstructing the electoral process tomorrow (Saturday) as such a person or persons will face the full weight of the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, the chairman of ENSIEC, Christian Ngwu, said the commission had started dispatching sensitive materials and electoral officers to the various council headquarters.

Mr Ngwu, who monitored the sorting and loading process of the sensitive materials, said, “At this stage, we are 100 per cent fully prepared for the polls.

“ENSIEC is assuring peaceful, fair, credible and transparent polls.

“The commission is equally promising to provide all the 17 political parties taking part in the polls a level playing field.

“Eligible voters should troop out en masse to exercise their franchise as the security agencies are giving the whole electoral process adequate protection.

“I will also sound a note of warning to troublemakers to steer clear of the polls as we are ready, determined and with robust plans to ensure everything goes smoothly.”

The state electoral boss promised that the materials and staff for the elections would be in all polling units by 8.00 a.m. prompt.

“We have made adequate arrangements to ensure early commencement of voting, which will end by 3.00 p.m.

“Even the weather will not stop the polls, as we have directed electoral staff to find a way to continue their work while it is raining,” he said.

Over two million eligible voters will be expected to vote in 17 chairmen and 260 councillors across the state’s 17 local government areas.

(NAN)