The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be conducting rerun elections for the Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and Enugu South I State Constituency on Saturday, tomorrow.
The Enugu State Police Command has ordered the deployment of personnel and other resources to ensure hitch-free rerun elections in the Enugu South, Igbo-Eze North and Udenu local government areas.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be conducting rerun elections for the Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency and Enugu South I State Constituency on Saturday, tomorrow.
However, in separate statements, the police and state government ordered a restriction of movements in Enugu South, Igboeze North and Udenu Council areas to ensure orderly and hitch-free elections.
According to the statements, the restriction of non-essential and unauthorised human and vehicular movements in Igbo-Eze North, Udenu and Enugu South Local Government Areas starts at midnight and ends at 6 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, February 3.
The police statement was credited to the state police commissioner, Kanayo Uzuegbu.
A statement by the Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said that "in compliance with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, the state commissioner has restated the ban and restriction of all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
"This is in addition to barring state-established and owned security outfits and organisations, like the Neighborhood Watch Group and the Forest Guards, other quasi-security units, and privately owned guard and security outfits from participating in the elections' security management.
"Consequently, the commissioner has reaffirmed the preparedness of the police and other security agencies in the state to ensure maximum security and safety before, during, and beyond the period of the elections. He, therefore, urges the electorate in the areas to massively go out and exercise their franchise without fear of intimidation or molestation.
"To this end, the CP has cautioned political parties, their candidates, and their supporters against conducting themselves in ways capable of contravening provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended) and breaching public peace during the elections. He warns that anyone found wanting will be made to face the full wrath of the law."
The command, however, enjoined the citizenry, particularly the electorate and residents of the areas where the elections are being conducted to be law-abiding, vigilant, and promptly report acts of crime and observed electoral offences to the nearest police station or call 08032003702, 08086671202, 0809880172, or 08075390883.
Similarly, in the statement signed by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, the government said there shall be no vehicular movement on the roads and or any form of transportation in the affected LGAs.
"While the temporary inconveniences are regretted, Ndi Enugu are enjoined to adhere to the directive for the free, fair, credible, orderly, secure, and peaceful conduct of the elections.
"Security agencies have been briefed and are to ensure the enforcement of the order, while all security agents not formerly posted to election duties by their respective agencies are barred from the vicinity of the election venues."