Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has issued a directive barring the Ondo State security outfit, Amotekun, and other vigilante groups from participating in the governorship election scheduled for Saturday. This decision, announced in a statement by Force Public Relations Officer Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has sparked concerns within local communities about election security.

The statement clarified that “no quasi-security organisation, including state-backed groups like the Vigilante Corps or Amotekun, will be allowed to participate in the election process,” emphasizing that the security of the election is the exclusive responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force and other federal agencies under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

IGP Egbetokun warned political thugs and anyone intending to disrupt the election, asserting that any attempt to breach the peace would be met with legal consequences. “The message is clear—those who threaten the peace and security of the state will face the full force of the law,” he stated.

The IGP assured Ondo residents of the police’s preparedness to ensure a peaceful and orderly election across the state’s 18 local government areas, 203 wards, and 3,933 polling units. He highlighted that comprehensive plans are in place, including the deployment of specialized units such as the Special Intervention Squad, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, K-9 Unit, Federal Investigation and Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT), and Federal Intelligence and Security Task Force (FID-STS), all coordinated with other federal security agencies.

To further bolster security, aerial patrols with police helicopters and gunboat patrols along waterways and riverine areas will ensure safety across all terrains. These measures are designed to deter potential disruptions and uphold electoral stability.

Egbetokun reiterated that the Nigeria Police Force and allied federal security agencies are fully committed to a smooth, incident-free election, adhering to the principles of fairness, transparency, and the guidelines of the Electoral Act, 2022.