“We have an intelligence report that there is a grand plan to turn the election gruesomely violent and deadly by arming thugs to unleash mayhem at polling centres,” Joshak Habila, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in Charge of Operations and Security Coordinator for the Osun governorship election, said.
Ahead of the rerun governorship election in Osun State scheduled for Thursday, the Police have said it is in possession of "intelligence report” that has uncovered a plot by armed political thugs to disrupt the poll.
Voting would would hold in seven polling units in four local government areas of the state.
Joshak Habila, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in Charge of Operations and Security Coordinator for the Osun governorship election, disclosed this on Wednesday in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Habila said some disgruntled politicians bent on causing violence during the election had already recruited and started arming the political thugs to unleash mayhem in polling units where the election will hold.
“We have an intelligence report that there is a grand plan to turn the election gruesomely violent and deadly by arming thugs to unleash mayhem at polling centres,” he disclosed.
Although he did not declare the number of policemen deployed for the supplementary poll, he pointed out that security agencies have been sent to protect lives and property of residents of the state while the exercise lasts.
Habila explained that the Police had agreed to work in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure that the rerun election is conducted peacefully and there is no breakdown of law and order.
He said: “Those of them preparing for ‘fire for fire’ must be ready to bear the consequences of their actions which are designed to undermine this particular democratic process.
“It should be noted that the Nigeria Police Force will remain proactive and would not rest on its oars in its task to decode the identities of those democratic enemies.
“Residents are requested to be law abiding and go about their lawful duties without fear and with the full assurance of the protection of law abiding citizens and voters who are out there to exercise their franchise.”
He, however, stressed that only eligible voters with their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and other personnel with authentic accreditation would be allowed near the units where the supplementary poll would take place.
“Residents should report all suspicious activities to the Police, such as solicitation for votes, buying of Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) and any plan to rig or disrupt the election.
“Troublemakers and other interlopers are warned to keep away from the polling units and indeed from any part of the state. The police and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned to protect lives and property and maintain peace."
SaharaReporters crew would be covering and giving live updates from the seven polling units in the four LGAs of Ife North, Ife South, Orolu and Osogbo, where the Thursday election would hold.