Atleast 1,500 security officers are expected to take part in tomorrow’s Port Harcourt Constituency 3, state House of Assembly bye-election in Rivers state.
The state commissioner of Police, Zaki Ahmed disclosed this in a news statement in Port Harcourt, the state capital yesterday.
The seat was declared vacant shortly after the former occupant, Victor Ihunwo emerged winner of the June 16, 2018, state Local Government Council elections for Poet Harcourt Local Government Area, and was consequently sworn -in as the mayor of Port Harcourt.
Ahmed said the operatives would ensure peaceful, free and fair exercise and appealed to all residents to cooperate as those concerned carry out with their civic responsibility.
He said, “… and most importantly to brief you and indeed the general public on the preparedness of the command in synergy with other sister agencies for the forthcoming bye-election into PHALGA constituency 3, state House of Assembly holding on Saturday, August 18, 2018.
“As Command, we have made adequate deployments for the exercise, to the nature that the bye-electiin is free, fair, credible and devoid of violence.
“Consequently, the command with the supports of other security agencies suprintending the election have agreed that there will be restriction of movement of persons, vehicles, on land and water within the areas concerned, and between 6 am to 6 pm.
“The restriction if movement is only limited to mile 1, 2, 3 and 4 with the following description, Abonnema Wharf, Karina Street, Omoku, Mile 3, UST, Ship flyover, Eagle Island and mile 1 market.”
The security Boss also warned politicians and the high and mighties in the state against going to the voting centres in the company of their security details, urging them to comply with the provision of the electoral Act, by restricting their movements within their voting centres only to avoid unpleasant encounter with security agencies.
“The Police and security agencies will be monitoring the exercise, to ensure that there is due compliance to this directive. Therefore any person or group of persons in default will be arrested and prosecuted.”
He further noted that all entry and exit points to the stated areas of restrictions will be closed throughout the period of the exercise.
