The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP, Adebola Hamzat, On Thursday, said necessary measures will be put in place by the command to ensure a safe and secured environment for residents of the state during and after the Local Government Councils Election, scheduled for 27th April, 2024.
CP Adebola Hamzat , gave the assurance while speaking with journalists shortly after meeting the leadership of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) , who were on a courtesy call to his office, Eleyele, Ibadan.
He explained that attaining a peaceful election requires an inclusive security architecture, noting that the command will work with concerned government and security agencies to ensure the election is devoid of rancor.
CP Adebola, who revealed that the command has enough and better resources and man power to deploy for the poll, enjoined residents of the state to be part of the electoral process and be law-abiding in their conduct.
He said the visit of OYSIEC was long overdue and promised continuous engagement with the Commission to have a successful election.
He described local government as the most impactful government in which citizens can enjoy many dividends of democracy.
“We have discussed, we have been able to determine some places that have gaps. We will still discuss further so that the election tentatively put for 27th April, 2024 will be successful, devoid of rancor and insecurity.
“We have enough and better resources, intelligence, we have about 100 patrol vehicles, 20 special patrol units. We will work with the likes of Operation Burst, Amotekun and, if the need be, police officers in sister states because the Nigeria police is one, and our participation in the election is not negotiable.”
Earlier in his remarks, the OYSIEC Chairman, Aare Isiaka Abiola Olagunju, SAN, said the visit was to formally inform the command of the intention of members of the Commission to conduct an election that is peaceful and free of intimidation.
Aare Olagunju noted that the people of the state are always afraid of not being secured on the day of election; hence, there is a need to collaborate with the command to have a conducive environment, before, during and after the election.
He called on the command to assist to maintain law and order across the polling units on the day of election and ensure no life is lost.
He also sought the cooperation of the command in the signing of undertaking by political parties ahead of the election.
