As the counting of votes is set to begin in Ondo State, the police authorities have charged its officers deployed for the exercise to be vigilant.
The Force also wants police operatives deployed for election security to restrict any unauthorized movement of persons in and out of the collation centres.
This charge was given by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of the Ondo State Gubernatorial Elections, DIG Sylvester Abiodun Alabi.
Shortly after the voting ended in the Sunshine State, Alabi “conducted a series of rigorous inspections of polling units and collation centres aimed at ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process,” Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said.
In the Saturday statement, Adejobi stated that Alabi’s action was “aimed at ensuring the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.”
“These inspections aim to guarantee that all voting materials are accounted for and that the counting and collation of votes are conducted in a fair and orderly manner,” the statement read.
“Officers are to place strict safety protocols to prevent any potential disruptions or irregularities that could compromise the integrity of the elections.”
He also reiterated the commitment of the Force to “placing adequate security measures to ensure the electoral process is conducted free and fair.”
The Force spokesman added that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, further assured “members of the public, particularly the good citizens of Ondo State, of the highest standard of security throughout the electoral process and even afterwards.”
The election began around 8 am in the 3,933 polling units of the South-West state. Materials for the exercise arrived in some places as early as 6 am with officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ramping up preparations for the poll.
INEC cleared 1`8 candidates for the election as Ondo residents choose their governor for the next four years. Analysts believe the exercise is a two-horse race between incumbent Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa who is flying the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s Ajayi Agboola.
Interestingly, both men served as deputy governors of the state in the administration of late Governor Rotimi Akeredolu who passed on late last year. Upon his death, Aiyedatiwa was sworn in to take the reins of leadership in the Sunshine State.
After exercising their franchise in the election, the top contenders, however, differed in their assessment of the poll.
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