IGP orders restriction of movement on election day

On election day, all vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation must be restricted from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the exception of vehicles carrying essential personnel such as INEC officials, electoral observers, the press, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, and others.

The order, which is a component of the measures put in place to ensure a safe, secure, and favorable environment for the conduct of elections, aims to manage public order, ensure voter safety, and support the security agencies' ineffective policing in order to stop hoodlums and criminally inclined individuals from interfering with the election.

According to police spokesman, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, “Similarly, the IGP sternly warns all security aides and escorts to desist from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election as anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned. He emphasizes that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.

“While empathizing with well-meaning citizens on the inconveniences the restriction may cause, the IGP urges all active electorates to be law-abiding and turn out en masse to exercise their franchise. He however warns that the Force will deal decisively with any individual(s) or group(s) that might want to test our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election.

“The IGP, therefore, enjoins all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s) as the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book.

“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, urges all members of the public to contact the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room domiciled at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the ‘NPF Rescue Me App’ available on Android and ios, or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631 to report suspicious persons, activities or request security response. Similarly, other joint operations/election situation room numbers will be released by all State Police Commands respectively, for emergency contact.”

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