By Oyinkansayo Wole-Bodunde.
General Christopher Musa, Chief of Defence Staff, alongside the Police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has issued a stern warning to individuals planning to cause trouble during the upcoming governorship election in Edo State, scheduled for September 21, 2024.
Musa emphasized the commitment to ensuring a free, fair, and credible election, urging security personnel to remain neutral and professional.
During his visit to troops in Edo, Musa cautioned that there’s no going back on this commitment. The Police have already begun covert operations, deploying plainclothes personnel to strategic locations.
Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, revealed that DIG Frank Mba and DIG Daniel Pedro will lead approximately 35,000 Police personnel deployed to Edo for the election.
Adejobi warned non-participants to stay indoors, as movement will be restricted without a Permanent Voters Card (PVC) during the election. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Air Force has airlifted election materials to Benin, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delivering sensitive materials for the poll.
INEC confirmed the arrival of materials at Benin Airport, tweeting, “Sensitive materials for the Edo State governorship election, holding on Saturday, September 21, 2024, arrived at Benin Airport earlier today.” The commission urged stakeholders to discharge their mandates responsibly for the greater good.
In addition, the NSCDC has deployed 6,433 personnel to protect public assets during the exercise. The NSCDC is a paramilitary agency established in May 1967, with the primary function of protecting lives and properties. Its vision is to deliver efficient, humble, and integrity driven services, focusing on broad-based information networking and monitoring of movement.
