Ahead of Saturday’s run-off and bye-elections scheduled to take place across 26 states in Nigeria, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Dr Kayode Egbetokun has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. on election day in all states where elections would be holding with the exception of those on essential services
This was contained in a statement made available to news men in Abuja on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer FPRO Assistant Commissioner of Police ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi’
According to the statement those exempted from the order are officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC , electoral observers, accredited media and observers both foreign and domestic, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters amongst others,
The affected states include Ebonyi, Yobe, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Plateau, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Enugu, Jigawa, Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
The IGP has also ordered a ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centers during the election while State-established and owned security outfits and organizations, quasi-security units, and privately owned guard and security outfits were also barred from participating in election security management.
The statement pointed out that he movement restrictions, including the ban on VIP aides, escorts, and state security outfits, were crucial measures aimed at preventing any undue interference or intimidation during the electoral process.
