February 23, (THEWILL) – The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, has ordered restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12am to 6pm on Election Day.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had scheduled Saturday, February 25, for presidential and national assembly elections.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement on Wednesday night, said those on essential services including officials of the INEC, election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies and firefighters among others, are exempted from the order restricting movement.
“Consequent to the first part of the 2023 general elections, the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to hold on Saturday, February 25, 2023, across all states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the IG, Usman Baba, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12am to 6pm on election day with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc.
“Similarly, the IG sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned.
“He emphasises that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.
“The order, which is part of measures emplaced to ensure a safe, secure, and conducive environment for the conduct of elections, is aimed at ensuring public order management, the safety of electorates, as well as assisting the security agencies in effective policing, thereby preventing hoodlums and criminally-minded elements from disrupting the electoral process,” he said, adding that the ban on “unauthorised use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses is still in force.
“While empathising with well-meaning citizens on the inconveniences the restriction may cause, the IGP urges all active electorates to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise,” the statement reads.
“He, however, warns that the Force will deal decisively with any individual(s) or group(s) that might want to test our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election.
“The IGP, therefore, enjoins all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes and other criminal act(s) as the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially, the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book.”
Members of the public have been asked to contact the police via the ‘NPF Rescue Me’ mobile phone application or through the ‘NPF Rescue Me’ emergency toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious activities.
Meanwhile, all state-owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard outfits have been barred from carrying out security-related duties during the elections.
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