The Delta State Police Command has hinted that it would deploy 12, 000 officers across the State for the governorship election scheduled for March 18th 2023.
This is just as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in charge of South-south zone, DIG Moses A. Jitoboh, stormed the Command ahead of the election to ensure peace before, during and after the exercise in the state.
A press statement on Thursday March 16th 2023, by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright, disclosed that the officers are to ensure a peaceful conduct of the election.
According to the Police image maker, the visit of the Deputy Inspector General of Police was to boost the moral of officers and men of the Command and also to assure residents in the state of the force readiness to ensure that the election is hitch free and successful.
The PPRO said: “the visit was aimed at boosting the moral of officers and men of the Command and also to assure residents in the state of the force readiness to ensure that the election is hitch free and successful.
“The DIG while addressing officers urged them to be apolitical as the police is not supposed to be partisan.
“He also warned that any officer who fail to thoroughly supervise their personnel will be vicariously liable if any policeman attach to them is found in election fraud or malpractices.
“The DIG also noted that the Inspector General of Police has ordered the distribution and deployment of additional equipments which includes riot gunners, tear gas and other anti-riot equipments and also two thousand (2000) police personnel on election duty and monitoring”.
Meanwhile, political parties contesting the governorship and House of Assembly elections have entered into a peace accord.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election in the State, CP mamman U. Sanda, invited leaders of the various political parties to the state headquarters for the signing of peace accord.
The CP in his remark, noted that for us to have hitch free elections and achieve the desired results, they were invited in line with security arrangements.
The CP noted that with the support of the political parties, there will be no problem. The CP solicit for their understanding owing to the fact that they are brothers and sisters and will remain so even after the election.
The various political parties assured the CP that they would cooperate with the police and do their best to ensure that the election is free of any rancor.
The Commissioner of Police has also ordered operation show of force across the eight area commands in synergy with other sister agencies, strict enforcement of restriction of vehicular movement on Election Day from the hours of 0000hours to 1800hours on March 18th 2023.
The CP Election Delta Command directed DPOS to arrest any vigilante or any non-state actor found meddling in the election process as they will not be playing any role whatsoever during the elections, so they are to steer clear of the polling units and the entire election process.
While wishing residents in the State a hitch free elections wishes to state that the success of this election, to a large extent, lies on how the electorates and residents conduct themselves in accordance with all the extant laws, he therefore assures all residents that the Command will not compromise in carrying out its primary responsibility of ensuring the protection of life and property, as well as preservation of public tranquillity before, during, and after the elections.
The following dedicated phone lines are available to the public to reach the command, as a quick response contact for any complaint or distress situation during the election exercise:
CONTROL ROOM NUMBERS:
1. 08036684974
2. 08125958005
3. 09053872287
