The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat has assured adequate security during and after the April 27 local government election in the state.
He allayed fear of residents on security of lives and property as the state local government Councils election is fast approaching.
CP Adebola gave the assurance on Wednesday, during his visit to the office of the Chairman, Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC), Agodi Quarters, Ibadan, just as he expressed the readiness and commitment of the command to ensuring a peaceful environment across the length and breath of the state on the day of election.
According to him,” the visit was aimed to know the level of the preparedness of OYSIEC, discuss areas of concerns and share intelligence to have a hitch free election.
He said the police will collaborate with its sister’s agencies and strategize with a view to ensuring that the election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
The Police boss described local government administration as a medium of government where residents enjoy real dividends of democracy, admonishing eligible voters not to boycott the election for any reason.
He assured the electoral umpire of continued collaboration and support, noting that the assignment given to the command by OYSIEC will be done professionally and with utmost dedication.
“We came here today as a follow-up to the previous meeting we had with the Commission, just like we promised the other time when OYSIEC visited us that the engagement was going to be continuous.
“ We are here actually to inform the Commission of our preparedness for the election and also to see possible areas where we need to do better planning, put in better strategy, to see that the election is peaceful and conducted under a very peaceful atmosphere”
” We should not have apathy based on security concerns, the Nigeria police force with other sister security agencies, we are ready to provide adequate security during and after the election.
The CP assured that the exercise will go well with competent officers on ground, saying by God’s grace, everything will go well. “
In his remarks, the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, appealed to the command to intensify its efforts for residents to have confidence that the election will be peaceful.
He harped on the need for security agencies in the state to ensure that anyone who breaches election guidelines during the poll be seriously punished and make to face the full wrath of the law.
While appreciating the police for their visit, Olagunju hinted that arrangements are ongoing for the signing of a peace accord by political parties and other relevant stakeholders ahead of the election, scheduled for the April 27, 2024
