POLICE RESTRICTS MOVEMENT FOR PEACEFUL CONDUCT OF BY-ELECTIONS ON DECEMBER 5
The Lagos State Police Command has declared that movement will be restricted between 6a.m and 6p.m on Saturday, 5th December 2020, to ensure the conduct of free, fair and credible by-elections into the Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe 11 Constituency, Lagos State House of Assembly seats.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Hakeem Odumosu, made the assertion, on Thursday, during deliberations with election monitoring officers deployed from the Force Headquarters, Abuja, on the strategies put in place to assist and monitor the elections in Lagos State.
The election monitoring team, which comprises two Commissioners of Police, some Assistant Commissioners of Police and other officers, led by the Commissioner of Police, Community Policing, Force Headquarters, CP Kola Okunola, reported to Lagos State Command on 3rd December 2020, in preparation for the deployment and monitoring of police personnel and other security agents detailed for the election duties.
The Command has also deployed Police personnel and other security agents to cover and provide security at the1,928 polling units where elections will hold.
CP Odumosu reiterated that vehicular and pedestrian movement in and out of the affected Local Government Areas will be restricted during the elections but those on election duties, essential services and accredited domestic and foreign election observers will be allowed passage.
The affected Local Government Areas for the two legislative seats include Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Kosofe Somolu and Ikorodu.
The Police Boss warned the electorate and political gladiators to play the game according to the rules and provisions of the Electoral Act 2010, emphasising that no police aides or security agents will be allowed to escort their principals or any Very Important Personalities (VIPs) to polling units or on any movement while the elections last.
While maintaining that any security aides caught violating this directive will be arrested and made to face the full weight of the law, CP Hakeem Odumosu assured the general public of safety and smooth conduct of the elections.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the police to achieving free, fair, credible and acceptable elections in the affected Local Government Areas.
