- Anyone Caught With Weapons on Election Day Faces Instant Criminal Charges.
With the Edo State governorship election on September 21 rapidly approaching, Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has announced that quasi-security outfits will be barred from participating in election security in the South-South state.
Egbetokun made this statement on Sunday during the Edo Election Security Townhall, an event organized by Channels Television in collaboration with the Kimpact Development Initiative and UK International Development.
Egbetokun said, “We will be impartial, we will be professional, and we will be vigilant whilst providing a level playing ground for all the political parties and their candidates.
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“Quasi-security organisations would not be allowed to take part in this election. They will not be allowed to intervene in the election security. Just as we have done in previous elections, only the police and other security agencies will be lawfully deployed for this exercise.
“For those who may be thinking of using violence to disrupt the election, I have a warning for them. Any person or persons found bearing any offensive weapon on the day of election will be treated instantly as an armed criminal.”
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The IGP assured residents of the state that the election would proceed peacefully. As a result of Egbetokun’s directive, the Edo State Security Network and other state or privately-run security groups are prohibited from engaging in election security for the upcoming vote.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Frank Mba supported Egbetokun’s stance, noting that the IGP’s position aligns with established practice and the Electoral Act, which traditionally excludes vigilantes from election duties.
