The Police command in Ogun says it has deployed adequate number of operatives to ensure tight security for Saturday’s by-election in the Remo Federal constituency.
CSP Omolola Odutola , the Command’s Spokesperson, stated this in a statement issued on Friday in Abeokuta.
The Remo Federal constituency comprises Sagamu, Ikenne and Remo North Local Government areas of the state.
“For a credible and transparent election, voters are to align with the electoral laws and must not engage in vote buying or any conduct that can cause breach of peace. Applicable law will be applied to anyone found disobeying it.
“Movements across the three local governments would be restricted from 12:00a.m to 4:00p.m, while police stop and search teams and other operational units will be strategically deployed,” she said.
The police spokesperson added that the State Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, while briefing officers ahead of the poll, emphasised that operatives must remain professional, civil, and neutral.
“The command, in collaboration with other security agencies, and additional manpower from Zone 2 Command, Lagos, has put in place robust security measures to prevent election-related violence.
“To ensure credible, transparent, and violence-free election, voters are enjoined to adhere to the electoral laws.
“Acts such as campaign, vote-buying, distribution of flyers or display of political stickers at polling areas are prohibited,” she said.
Odutola appealed for the cooperation of all voters and warned individuals with malicious intentions to stay away from polling units, as any attempt to disrupt the process would be met with decisive action.
For immediate assistance or information during the election, the police released the following helpline numbers: 0915 957 8888, 0803 860 9898, 0813 984 4740.
By-election: INEC distributes sensitive materials in Ogun
Ahead of the Saturday by-election for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal constituency in Ogun, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has commenced the distribution of sensitive materials.
Mrs Saseyi Feyijimi, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) made this known to newsmen at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Abeokuta on Friday, venue of the distribution.
According to Feyijimi, the sensitive materials includes result sheets and the ballot papers, adding that the non-sensitive materials had been distributed to the local government earlier.
She noted that critical stakeholders like members of the committee on inter agency consultative committee on election, security and media were on ground to witness the distribution of the materials.
“The usual practice is to distribute the materials in the open so that everybody can see. As you can see, the materials have not been opened. Pictures have been taken so that everybody can see that we are doing it in a transparent manner.
“Critical stakeholders are here; the press, members of the committee on inter agency consultative committee on election security are also here .We also have the national commissioner supervising Ogun state and political parties are all here,” she said.
Feyijimi assured that INEC would maintain fairness, justice, and transparency in the election process, noting that commission officers had conducted extensive grassroots sensitization in preparation.
She stated that the commission had trained 2,445 officials for the election and assured that the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) was in place, with a backup system to ensure smooth operations.
On security, she said the commission had been assured of adequate security by the state commissioner of police and traditional rulers from the three local government areas.
“INEC is committed to transparency and will not tolerate or defend anyone who engages in electoral infractions.
“We have warned our staff to do what is right. Anyone caught will not be spared; even the chairman of the commission has warned all the staff,” she said.
According to the REC, the polling hours would be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The former member representing the constituency Adewunmi Onanuga died on Jan. 15 after a brief illness.
Police impose movement restriction ahead of Kaduna by-elections
The Police Command in Kaduna State, has announced the restriction of movement in the affected local governments areas to ensure the peaceful conduct of Saturday’s bye-elections.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Mansir Hassan, made the announcement in a statement issued on Friday in Kaduna.
Hassan said the restriction of movement would start from 12:00 a.m in Sabon Gari, Zaria, Chikun, and Kajuru Local Government Areas in the state.
He said the measure was part of the security arrangements put in place to ensure successful bye-elections in the affected areas.
“Members of the public are strongly advised to comply with this directive as only personnel on essential duties and those with valid election duties will be exempted.
“The command urges the residents to conduct themselves peacefully and cooperate with the security agencies to ensure hitch-free elections,” Hassan said.
All set for Anambra by-election – INEC
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that all is now set for the conduct of the Saturday by-elections in Anambra South Senatorial zone and Onitsha North 1 state Assembly constituency.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Queen Elizabeth Agwu disclosed this said to journalists in Awka on Friday.
She said that the election would hold in 210 wards in Anambra South Senatorial zone while the exercise would hold in 118 wards in Onitsha North 1 state Assembly constituency.
She also said that while 817, 521 registered voters were expected to determine a winner for Anambra South Senatorial zone seat, 92, 223 voters were eligible to participate in the election in Onitsha North 1 state Assembly constituency.
Agwu said that the two constituency by-elections were demanded by the demise of the occupants of the seats, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah who died on July 26,2024 in London and, Justice Azuka who was kidnapped on Dec. 24, 2024.
The REC said that the commission had made adequate arrangements to ensure that the elections were free, fair and credible.
She disclosed that the commission had held a meeting with all the major stakeholders including security agencies and that every participant in the elections agreed to collaborate to ensure that the election was hitch free.
Agwu urged the electorate to come out en masse to vote in the elections and advised those who might not have any business to do in the polls to stay away from the constituencies during the election.
She said that the commission had no preferred political parties or candidates in the upcoming elections and advised all eligible voters to come out timely to cast their votes to their preferred candidate.
Agwu said that sensitive and non-sensitive materials for the election had been distributed accordingly to the various constituencies where the election would hold before relevant persons from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) office.
She said that the exercise was done in most civilised and professional manner before the security agencies, some political party representatives and journalists who witnessed the distribution of the materials.