The Commissioner of Police (CP) for Edo, Funsho Adeboye has reiterates commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and neutral electoral process in the Edo governorship election, emphasizing that no individual or political party will be given special privileges to hijack the election, scheduled for Sept. 16.
Adebayo stated this on Thursday in Edo while speaking with newsmen shortly after a closed door meeting between INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, and security agencies in state in his Office in Edo.
The CP who said that impartial was paramount for the successful conduct of the state election, added that level playing ground 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 hijack.
“There are also pockets of complaint 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.
“So people should be rest assured. They should go for the registration without fear, “ he said.
He assured INEC that here would be appropriate synergy among security agencies to offer preparation for the election including riverine areas and terrains that are difficult,” he said.
On his part, INEC chairman, Yakubu described the meeting as a routine engagement between INEC and security and intelligence agencies, as well as law enforcement and emergency services, in preparation for the state election.
As we are aware, the collaboration that exists at the national level, where we have the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), co-chaired by the INEC chairman, and co-chaired by the National Security Adviser.
That same arrangement is also replicated at state level, where we have the ICCESS 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 issues that border on some of the complaints received from some of the parties.
He disclosed the 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 11am.
“ 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