Ondo Guber poll: Police ready for gov election, says commissioner

The Ondo State Police Commissioner, Abayomi Oladipupo, has stated that the state police command is well-prepared for the upcoming governorship election on November 16.

Oladipupo made this statement as the command commenced training for officers in preparation for the forthcoming election.

The training began on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, held at the Officers’ Mess in Akure, Oladipupo explained that the training was an initiative of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, as part of the police force’s efforts to ensure professionalism among officers during the off-cycle poll.

The CP said, “This training programme is organised under the guidance of the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, in preparation for the upcoming off-cycle elections on November 16, 2024, in Ondo State. The Inspector General has initiated this programme to ensure that officers of all ranks across the state are well-prepared.

“This two-day programme will cover, in-depth, the statutory roles of the police during elections as defined in the Electoral Act of 2022. It will also emphasise human rights and other day-to-day policing responsibilities. Officers are expected to familiarise themselves with these essential duties, although the material isn’t new for most of us.

“We’ve already held a training session two weeks ago, and this is just one of several programmes organised in anticipation of the elections. The officers here have come from various locations across the state and are filling key positions. My advice to them is to take full advantage of this opportunity provided by the Inspector General of Police.

“They need to be clear about what is expected of them, what they must and must not do. There can be no excuse for failure. The eyes of the world are on Ondo State, and I am confident that our officers will perform their duties with professionalism and integrity.”

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In his remarks, a consulting firm handling the training for the officers, GTA Consulting Firm, represented by Johnson Ategihe, stated that the objective of the programme was to address the security challenges in the state.

“There have been concerns about potential violence, but the Inspector General of Police has emphasised the importance of strengthening the capacity of officers to assure the public, voters, and all stakeholders of a level playing field.

“The programme aims to ensure comprehensive security for everyone involved, supporting a free and fair election process without violence. Our goal is to create an environment where all stakeholders can participate equally and confidently, and where the election outcome is free from disturbances,” Ategihe stated.