Thousands of police officers have been deployed by the Edo State Police Command for the governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress scheduled for today in Benin.
According to information revealed by the state Commissioner of Police, Chris Eziken, 200 mobile policemen would also be deployed from neighbouring states to ensure adequate security as the primaries begin.
Ezike warned that the presence of thugs, impostors and entities who do not have any business at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the venue of the primaries would not be tolerated as the entire 7,871 workforce of the police command along with some operatives of the Department of State Service and other security agencies have been placed on red alert
“I want to say that the police in conjunction with other security services are ready to do the needful, to provide safety and security for the delegates, officials, the aspirants themselves and their agents. We are ready for anybody whose aim is to cause problem and I must say clearly that we are ready for the primaries,” he said.
The police boss also called on the participants in the primaries to conduct themselves properly by cooperating with relevant security agencies.
“We are also ready to provide security to the good people of Edo State so that there will not be any bitterness, rancour or acrimony in the course of the primaries.”
“As you are aware, the party sets the rules in the primaries, so our job is to follow the rules as set. However, violence is not a tool in an election.”
