“Police in election is not good for democratic system, people should be allowed to express whoever they want to govern them. The place is over police and we pray there won’t be any problem.”
There has been palpable tension in some quarters of Ekiti State due to the heavy presence of security personnel ahead of the state’s governorship election.
Though some residents of the state remain calm saying the police deployed to the state are to maintain peace and order.
According to the Police, 30,000 police officers were deployed into the state to ensure free and fair election in the state.
The deployment include 10 Armoured Personnel vehicles, Police Mobile Force Units, Counter-Terrorism Unit, the Special Protection Unit, the Anti-Bomb Squad, conventional policemen, the Armament Unit, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department and the sniffer dogs section.In addition to the Police are military personnel and men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps numbering over 700.
Bothered by the too much of security operatives in Ekiti, Mr Olukunle Alaketu said that the police are too much and have been intimidating residents.
He said, “Police in election is not good for democratic system, people should be allowed to express whoever they want to govern them. The place is over police and we pray there won’t be any problem.”
Similarly, Biyi Ogunleye, “There won’t be any trouble tomorrow and they would not be allowed to intimidate the people. This is Ekiti, no police would be allowed to act in favour of a party or candidate.”
Muyiwa Obayemi also stated that the soldiers and police will not stop us from voting tomorrow. We refused to be intimidated and we would all go out peacefully to vote for the candidate of our choice.
On the other hand, Honorable Elesin Pius posited that the Inspector General of Police thought it well to send massive police in the state and has the success of the election at heart.
“We are happy that the security people are here. We have been hearing that some people are threatening to attack and kidnap some residents but with the heavy presence of security personnel, we are calm now and will go out to vote.”
In addition, Johnson Olayiwola Abioye mentioned that the police and soldiers would ensure violence free election in Ekiti.
He said, “the police are for our peace and they are not to influence our vote. I would go out and exercise my right to vote.”
Adefemi Musa Abass, “I am happy because of the police and other security because they are here to protect us and ensure we have free and fair election.”
Mr Clement Nwankwo, Executive Director of Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre stated that the electoral body needs to put effort in reducing th cost of election in the country.
He also expressed optimism that the numbers of security operatives should not be used to intimidate voters.
“The police and security personnel that are deployed should not discourage or intimidate voters from coming out to vote.
He added, “Hopefully, we will get to the stage where the cost of election in this country is reduced. Elections are so routine that we do not need to deploy so much human and financial resources to run an election.”