The Nigeria Police Force has ordered watertight security as the All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties test their might today in by-elections for some national assembly seats in 12 states.
The inspector-general of police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, reiterated his earlier directives on the deployment of operational logistics to the states and local government areas where the elections would hold to provide an enabling environment for a free and fair election.
The states include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Kano, Ogun, Zamfara and Niger states.
Force PRO, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in order to ensure smooth elections, the IGP has directed the deployment of senior officers of the rank of assistant inspector-general of police and commissioners of police to assist state commissioners of police to ensure proper supervision over the electoral process for a smooth and hitch free election, while officers and men of the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department and other tactical units have equally been deployed.
The IGP has also ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day within affected local government areas with the exception of those on essential services including INEC officials, accredited media and electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, and firefighters.
Similarly, the IGP reiterated the ban on all security aides to VIPs and escorts from accompanying their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centres during the election.
State-established and owned security outfits/organisations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guards and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.
The Force PRO added that the inspector-general of police charges all officers deployed for this special duty to ensure compliance with NPF standard operational protocols for elections and further urges all citizens to be law abiding during and after the elections and assures that all necessary security arrangements have been emplaced to ensure their right to vote is unobstructed.
In Kogi State, the police command assured that the Police in synergy with other security agencies were effectively deployed to ensure adequate security and to maintain law and order before, during and after the Okura II State Constituency bye-election in the state.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP William Ovye Aya, reiterated the commitment of the Commissioner of Police, CP Miller Dantawaye, in collaboration with other security Forces to ensure a peaceful and orderly conduct of the bye-election.
The CP, while urging members of the affected areas to fully cooperate with the law enforcement officers to guard against criminal elements who may want to disrupt the election process, warned would-be troublemakers to stay away from the polling booths and collection centres.
Anambra Govt, LP Caucus Tackle Each Other
The Anambra state government and the Labour Party National Assembly Caucus have been at each other’s jugular over tomorrow’s bye-elections in the state.
The bye-elections are holding in Anambra South Senatorial zone and Onitsha North 1 State Assembly constituency.
In a statement co-signed by Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Tony Nwoye, Rt. Hon. George Ozodinobi, Hon. Afam Ogene, Hon. Emeka Idu, Hon (Prof) Lilian Orogbu, Hon. Peter Anekwe and Hon. Uchenna Okonkwo, the LP Caucus accused the state governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo of having perfected plots to use thugs to unleash attacks on members of the opposition during the elections.
The LP Caucus, in a statement to newsmen in Awka on Friday, claimed that “Information at our disposal indicates that Governor Chukwuma Soludo and his All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), has (have ) concluded plans to deploy men of the state’s security outfit, Udogachi, crude revenue enforcers, popular as ndi Aka odo and sundry non-state actors to take over the various voting points for the bye elections.”
The Caucus alleged that the plan by the governor is to use these state government-controlled agents to scare away prospective voters not aligned to APGA from the polling units.
Meanwhile, in a swift reaction, the state commissioner of Information, Dr. Law Mefor, dismissed the LP Caucus allegations.
He said in a statement in response to the LP Caucus allegations that “Anambra Government has no role in INEC-organised election security.”
“The attention of the Anambra State Government has been drawn to the statement being circulated by the Labour Party Caucus in the National Assembly regarding election security for the August 16 bye-elections in Anambra State, accusing Mr Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo CFR, of planning to unleash thugs on opposition parties.
“First, we see the accusations as laughable and baseless since election security is the primary responsibility of the police and other security agencies, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) also playing a crucial role.
“We want to categorically state that the Anambra State Government does not have a role in election security, especially in INEC-organised elections.
“We are aware of the desperation and antics of opposition political parties that are in disarray and afraid of the ruling party, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), and its formidable machinery in the state. Indeed, Anambra is APGA, and APGA is Anambra.
“The Labour Party, in particular, is advised to focus on resolving its internal crisis rather than shouting wolf in an election where they stand no chance.
“The Anambra State Government has confidence in the police and INEC to ensure election security and organise free, fair, and credible elections, thus allowing the will of the electorate to prevail.
“Ndi Anambra, particularly those in the constituencies involved in the Saturday, August 16 bye-elections, are therefore advised to go out en masse to vote, keep the peace, and defend their votes”, the commissioner stated.
But the LP Caucus, however, insisted that Soludo was determined to root out the opposition out of the bye-elections using the state ad-hoc security personnel.
The LP Caucus appealed that, “We, therefore, call on the nation’s top security architecture, especially the National Security Adviser, NSA, the Chief of Army Staff, the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Enugu, the Commanding Officer (CO), Field Artillery, Onitsha, the Director-General, Directorate of State Security, DSS and the Anambra State Director of the Service, as well as the Corp Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp(NSCDC), to fully deploy their personnel, so as to restore voter confidence in the election, as well as protect the lives of those involved in the process.
“The whole essence of democratic governance revolves around freedom of choice, made possible by free and fair elections. Tomorrow’s Anambra bye-elections, like several in some other states of the federation, is a litmus test on our country’s readiness to ensure that the votes of Nigerians not only count, but are peacefully counted in order to arrive at an acceptable outcome.
“In order to achieve this goal, therefore, the process cannot be skewed to favour any particular individual, be him a governor, or not.
“We also make haste to point out that, as an off-season election, the attention of all participants, including candidates, political parties, local and foreign observers, and of course, the media, would be focused on the process. As a people, we must therefore strive to ensure that everyone plays by the rules,” the statement added.
INEC Distributes Sensitive Materials In Kogi
Ahead of today’s bye-election in Kogi State, INEC has deployed sensitive materials to the four wards of Okura 11 State constituency in Dekina local government area of the state.
Speaking during the deployment of the materials, at the premises of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Lokoja on Friday, the INEC resident electoral commissioner (REC) for the state, Oliver Agundu, said the election would be held in the 138 registration areas across the four wards of the constituency.
According to the Commissioner, all logistical arrangements have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise, urging all eligible voters to come out to exercise their civic responsibilities.
He added that 76,385, out of the 78,059 registered voters would be participating in the election.
Giving the breakdown, the REC listed the wards to include Adamu Egume ward with 29 registration areas, Ojikpdala with 16 wards, Anyigba ward with 76 wards and Okura Olafia with 17 wards.
Edo Deploys 7,825 Police Personnel
The Edo Police Command yesterday said it has deployed 7,825 personnel for today’s bye-elections.
A statement by the state command PPRO, Moses Yamu, said the command is imposing a restriction of movement from 12 midnight on Friday, August 15 to 6pm on Saturday, August 16, in all areas where elections would be conducted.
He said the measure is to prevent any form of interference, disruption, or breach of peace during the electoral process.
“The personnel are drawn from Zone 5 Headquarters, the Edo State Command, Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Intervention Squad (SIS), and the Election Monitoring Team from the Nigeria Police Force Headquarters, Abuja.
“This massive deployment is aimed at providing adequate security before, during, and after the elections, to guarantee the safety of voters, electoral officials and materials, while maintaining law and order,” he added.
He further said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has appealed to members of the public to comply with this directive, noting that only those on essential duties with valid identification would be allowed passage.
He also warned that any individual or group found violating the restriction order, or engaging in acts capable of disrupting the election, or undermining the peace, would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to neutrality, professionalism and the protection of democratic values during this exercise.
The command also urged eligible voters to come out and exercise their civic responsibility without fear, as adequate arrangements have been made for their safety.
INEC Honours Court Order, Includes SDP In Today’s By-elections
In obedience to an Abuja Court judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has included candidates of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in today’s by-elections.
INEC had rejected the candidates of the opposition party for the election on the grounds that SDP did not earlier submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries, hence the commission could not monitor the exercise.
However, the Federal High Court, Abuja Division in a judgement on a suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025, ordered INEC to include SDP and its candidates in the bye-elections in 12 states of the federation.
INEC national commissioner and chairman, Information and Voter Education Committee, Sam Olumekun who disclosed this on Friday, said the 11th-hour judgement will not affect the election which will proceed as scheduled.
Olumekun stated that the commission will exercise its legitimate right of appeal under the law.
“The Commission has been served with the judgement of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1525/2025. In the judgement, the commission was ordered to include the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidates in the bye-elections in 12 states of the Federation. The party did not earlier submit a valid notice for the conduct of primaries for the bye-elections. For this reason, they were not monitored by the commission.
“However, in compliance with the judgement, the names of the candidates submitted manually have been accepted and published on our website. The party will participate in the bye-elections.
“The commission wishes to assure the public, especially voters in the 12 States, that the 11th-hour judgement will not affect the election which will proceed tomorrow Saturday 16th August 2025 as scheduled.
“Meanwhile, the commission will exercise its legitimate right of appeal under the law,” he stated.
