33,783 cops for Ondo poll as 11 parties back Jegede

A total number of 33,783 police personnel would be deployed for the October 10 governorship election in Ondo State, the Inspector -General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, has said.

The police boss, who disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting with political parties, traditional rulers and election observers in Akure, the state capital, said the deployment will comprise 30,933 conventional police personnel and 2,850 from special police units.

He also said the police deployment will be complemented by an additional 3,500 manpower that will be drawn from other security agencies.

The military, he said, will be engaged for the purpose of securing the interstate borders, while the Nigeria Police Airwing will provide air surveillance.

He urged political parties to embrace the virtues of democracy by seeing elections as a call to the service of the people and not a do or die affair.

Meanwhile, 11of the 17 political parties participating in the election, have resolved to support Eyitayo Jegede, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the governorship election.

The parties are Accord Party, Action Alliance, Action Democratic Party, APGA, AAC, APM, APP, NNPP, NRM, YPP and SDP.

The 11 political parties made the resolution on Monday at the PDP Secretariat in Akure, the state capital.

Oladele Ogunbameru, state chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP), who spoke on behalf of other political parties, said the move was borne out of their commitment to good governance in the state, which they believe can only be offered by the PDP.

Reacting to the new development, Fatai Adams, the State PDP chairman who described it as a welcome development, said the support from the political parties has indicated the acceptability of Jegede and also showed that the party will emerge victorious on Saturday.

Abdulsalami c’ttee calls for peaceful poll

Also on Monday, the National Peace Committee (NPC), has called for free, fair, credible and peaceful conduct of the election.

The NPC in a statement signed by its Chairman and former Head of States, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd), urged every stakeholder in the election to live up to the principles of impartiality, neutrality and statesmanship.

The committee particularly called on the candidates, the security agencies, INEC, the civil societies, the traditional rulers and the people of Ondo State to support the peaceful process in the state.