Lagos By-election: Ready to face 8,000 of us, police warn hoodlums
Trouble makers should be ready to face the music if they go near Saturday's By-election in Lagos. Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner in charge of Lagos Police Command, said that no fewer than 8000 security personnel would be deployed for the election.
Owoseni gave assurance of adequate security for voters at a Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at Ifako/Ijaiye.
According to him, the personnel will include police, military personnel and officers of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps.
He said that three policemen would man each of the 335 Polling Units and 687 voting points.
“We want to ensure we secure the process as much as possible. You may know the beginning of violence, but no one knows the end of it. Please, don’t engage in violence.
“We have met and we are still meeting as security agents. We want to assure that we will do all what is necessary to give all parties a level playing ground with regards to security.
“Our main concern is to secure the process, help us to tell your supporters that it is voting they are asked to come and do, not violence and killing.
“We are all related, we should think of this before engaging in violence. Elected offices are not gotten by violence; let us allow all to exercise their suffrage.
“We advise you to do politics without violence and rancor, we should suppress whatever violence tendency,” he said.
Owoseni urged hoodlums to steer clear, warning that anyone caught would be dealt with decisively.
The Police boss said that the command and other relevant security agencies would meet with the six candidates participating in the poll alongside with two representatives at the Command Headquarters.
He said that the Police would discuss with the contestants and make them sign a Memorandum of Understanding on peaceful conduct of supporters.
Owoseni, who noted that there would be some restrictions on movement in the affected constituency, said that details would be published on Friday.
He commended all the gladiators for being peaceful in their conduct since campaign started, saying that he had not heard any report of violence in the build up to the election.
The six political parties to contest in the poll are Action Alliance (AA), Alliance for Democracy (AD), African Democratic Party (ADC), All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Elijah Adewale, who represented the constituency in the House of Representatives, died in Abuja on July 20 and INEC has fixed the by-election into the vacant seat.
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