Ahead of Saturday September 21 Local Government Area and Area Council Elections, Imo State Police Command has beefed up security across the state.
According to the Command’s Spokesperson, Henry Okoye, the states Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma said that measures taken is to ensure a safe, transparent and credible poll across the 27 local government areas of the state.
Okoye also revealed that vehicular movement will be stopped from 12 midnight in Friday to 6pm on election day except those on essential services like medical practitioners, the fire service and authorised media and accredited electoral observers .
He further mentioned that armed security details are also restricted from following VIPs to polling units and warned that any attempt to disrupt the electoral process will be dealt with.
He said: “The Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Aboki Danjuma, has implemented comprehensive security measures for the local government chairman elections scheduled for September 21, 2024.
“These measures are designed to ensure a credible, transparent, and safe electoral process across all 27 Local Government Areas.
“A restriction on vehicular movement will be enforced from 00:00 to 18:00 hours on election day, allowing only essential services, such as medical practitioners, fire service, authorised media and accredited electoral observers, to operate. This is to facilitate a smooth voting process.
“CP Danjuma emphasised the need for all political actors to adhere to regulations set by the Imo State Independent Electoral Commission (ISIEC). He also warned that armed security operatives are prohibited from accompanying VIPs to polling units to maintain fairness.
“Voters are encouraged to participate actively and assured that their safety remains a top priority. Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers will oversee security to prevent any breaches within their jurisdictions.
“The Commissioner of Police reiterated that any attempts to disrupt the electoral process will be met with decisive action, reaffirming the commitment of the Imo State Police Command to uphold public peace and ensure a smooth election day.”