Enugu Rerun: Police Warn VIPs Against Flooding Election Booths With Security Aides

Political office-holders and private individuals have been warned against flooding polling units where Saturday’s rerun elections for Udenu/Igboeze North Federal Constituency election will take place.

THE WHISTLER reports that the rerun election will take place in 166 polling units of the over 500 polling units of the constituency.

The rerun was sequel to the nullification of the election of Labour Party’s Dennis Agbo following the omission of the logo of the All Progressives Congress in the result sheets.

The nullification followed a suit by the candidate of the APC in the election, Dr Oby Aji. Agbo is ahead of others with about 12, 000 votes.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Public Relations Officer of the Enugu State Police Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe.

The state Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu, in the statement, ordered the massive deployment of police operatives and other resources to ensure hitch-free rerun elections in the slated areas.

He also ordered the restriction of non-essential and unauthorized human and vehicular movements in Igbo-Eze North and Udenu local government areas from 12am to 6am of the election day.

According to Ndukwe, “The CP has restated the ban and restriction of all security aides to public and private persons as well as escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centers during the election.

“This is in addition to barring state-established and owned security outfits and organizations, like the neighbourhood watch groups and Forest Guards, other quasi-security units, and privately owned guard and security outfits from participating in the elections’ security management.”

The state police command, in the release, reaffirmed the preparedness of the police and other security agencies in the state to ensure maximum security and safety before, during, and beyond the period of the elections.

The CP urged the electorate in the areas “to massively go out and exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation or molestation”.

He also cautioned political parties, their candidates, and their supporters against conducting themselves in ways capable of contravening provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and breaching public peace during the elections.

Ndukwe added, “CP Uzuegbu warns that anyone found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of the law. The citizenry, particularly the electorate and residents in the areas of the rerun elections, have been enjoined to be law-abiding, vigilant, and promptly report acts of crimes and observed electoral offences to the nearest police station.”