Tension is very high in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states as voters file out today to elect governors in off circle elections.
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and his counterpart in Bayelsa State, Douye Diri, are seeking re-election, while Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State who is rounding off his second term, is supporting the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Usman Ododo, his anointed candidate among the aspirants, to win the election.
Fear of violence is palpable in the three states, but the police and other security agencies have assured voters of maximum security.
Massive security had been deployed in the three states for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) pleaded with the political parties for a peaceful poll.
The commission disclosed that 5,169,692 registered voters who collected their PVCs would cast their votes in the three states today.
The breakdown indicates that out of 1,056,862 registered voters in Bayelsa State, 1,017,613 have collected PVCs.
In Imo state, the number of registered voters is 2,419,922 out of which 2,318,919 have collected PVCs.
In Kogi State, out of 1,932,654 registered voters, 1,833,160 have collected PVCs.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered restriction of vehicular movement in the three states from 11:59pm on Friday to 6.00 pm on Saturday to curb the movement of illicit arms and political thugs.
The IGP said no fewer than 92,000 officers and men had been deployed for election duties in the three states.
Egbetokun said his men will deal with hoodlums who may be planning to snatch ballot boxes during today’s governorship elections.
“Concerning security at the collation centres, if collation centres have been porous in the past, I’ve said it before now, collation centres in this election will be heavily secured,” the IGP said.
The IG also ordered the distribution of additional 220 operational vehicles for election security management across the states.
Anti-riot equipment, including water cannons, Armoured Personnel Carriers, helmets, bulletproof vests, and tear gas canisters have also been deployed across the three states.
The IG also announced that dignitaries and Very Important Persons (VIPs) would not be allowed to move around with police escorts on election day, adding that it violates the Electoral Law.
“And anyone that does that is violating the electoral law and is liable to prompt arrest, and such people will get dealt with when they’re arrested,” the police chief stated.
Tension, fear, as Bayelsa, Imo, Kogi, elect governors today
