Ahead of Saturday’s Ekiti State Governorship Election, the Nigeria Police Force has warned of severe repercussions for electoral offenders.

In a statement on Friday, the spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), Anthony Placid, warned that anyone who undermines the integrity of the electoral process will be dealt with in line with the laws of the country. 

“The Nigeria Police Force warns that electoral offences and any act capable of undermining the integrity of the electoral process will be dealt with in accordance with the Electoral Act and other extant laws. Citizens are therefore urged to remain law-abiding and conduct themselves peacefully throughout the election period.”

According to Placid, the police have concluded comprehensive security deployments and operational arrangements for the Ekiti State governorship election. 

He said, “The deployment covers all 2,545 polling units across the State, as well as critical infrastructure, major entry and exit routes, border communities, and other strategic locations.” 

The force spokesman quoted the Commissioner of Police in charge of Election Security, Shogule Abayomi, as stating that a multi-layered security architecture has been adopted to ensure a peaceful, credible, and hitch-free electoral process. 

“Security personnel and operational assets have been strategically deployed across polling units and other identified locations to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral officials, observers, and election materials throughout the exercise,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu has assured the public that all personnel deployed for election duty have been adequately briefed on their responsibilities and rules of engagement.

IGP Disu said they will discharge their duties professionally, impartially, and in accordance with the law.

The police also disclosed a “dedicated election emergency line, 080062335577″ and encouraged the public to promptly report any security concerns to facilitate timely response and intervention.

Police authorities also called on eligible voters to come out peacefully and exercise their constitutional rights without fear or intimidation. They also cautioned against the spread of unverified information capable of causing panic or disrupting public order.

The Nigeria Police Force reassured residents of Ekiti State of its commitment to the protection of lives and property and the conduct of a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election.