ASABA-Speaking this afternoon on the security arrangement for the governorship election in Delta State, barely 13 hours from now is the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of Delta State, ASP. Chuks Orisewezie, who told our correspondent that the atmosphere in the state is calm and the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adeyinka Adeleke Bode has put all structure in place, and there is no cause for alarm.
He further said “All flash point in the state have been identified and security beefed off, and when I say all flash point, I mean areas where violence and political unrest during the last presidential election persisted. In this governorship election, all measure concerning security is in place, and the force is ready for any trouble maker. Our men are on ground to curtail any unforeseen circumstances. Right now, the CP Adeleke has deployed nine thousand police men as against the eight thousand deployed during the presidential election. This excludes other sister security agencies”
Asked if the normal deployment of one or two police men in polling unit or more, will still be same, the ASP. Orisewezie said tactically that everything has been taken care off: “You go to some polling unit, you may see two and other sister security agent, but I cannot emphatically tell you the numbers that will be in any polling unit, it depends on how the unit looks like”
“I advise the electorates to go out and vote, not to be apprehensive of any fear of arm, and intimidation; the police and other security agencies are capable because we are in synergy. We are sure that there will be free and fair election, people should have confidence in the process because the police is ready for any distraction that may come from anywhere, and that was why we released so many distress numbers for people to call”
The PPRO stressed that the command has also appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth leaders, political players, opinion leaders, parents and guardians to advise their supporters to be cautious and never to be a part of political thuggery or snatching of ballot boxes, or anything that may ignite trouble or violence or breach of peace. “Anybody irrespective of class found violating or causing problem during and after the election will face the wrath of the law.