The Commissioner of Police (CP) in Edo, Funsho Adegboye, has given an assurance of police neutrality in all activities concerning the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

He said on Thursday that no individual or political party would be allowed to hijack any of the electoral processes leading to the Sept. 16 election.

Mr Adegboye spoke with journalists in Benin shortly after a closed door meeting between INEC chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, and security agencies in state, in his office.

The CP said that impartiality was paramount for the successful conduct of the state election.

He said that a level playing field would be provided for all political players in the election.

“For example, on the issue of some exercise being hijacked, I want to assure you of this, that there will not be anything like a hijack.

“There are also pockets of complaints regarding some security agencies. I want to assure you that people that are not supposed to man electoral processes will not be allowed to take part.

“People should rest assured; they should go for the registration without fear,” Mr Adegboye said.

He assured INEC that there would be appropriate synergy among security agencies in preparing for the election, including in riverine areas and terrains that are difficult.

On his part, INEC chairman, Mr Yakubu described the meeting as a routine engagement.

He said it was between INEC and security and intelligence agencies, as well as law enforcement and emergency services, in preparation for the election.

“As we are aware, collaboration exists at the national level, where we have the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), co-chaired by the INEC chairman and the National Security Adviser.

“That same arrangement is also replicated at state level, where we have the ICCES chaired by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, with the Commissioner of Police as co-chair.”

He said that a number of issues were discussed at the meeting, including the preparations for the election, and others that border on complaints received from some of the parties.

Mr Yakubu said that the commission and security agencies would be meeting with political parties on Friday to address some of the complaints.

“We have also agreed that we are going to meet with the political parties tomorrow at 11 a.m.

“ Again, it’s not a crisis meeting, it’s just a routine meeting with the political parties ahead of the election, so that we have a seamless process in Edo State,” he said.

(NAN)