The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has told residents in Edo to immediately go home after casting their votes in Saturday’s governorship election.
Deputy Inspector-General of Police (DIG) in charge of security for the election, said only individuals accredited to monitor the election will be allowed on the streets.
Mba said this in an interview on Channels Television on Friday,
“It is important for everybody to know that if you are not accredited to carry out the functions relating to the election, you shouldn’t be out on the streets,” Mba said.
“If you are not an accredited personnel, just go out there, perform your civil duty, cast your votes, and return to your home.”
Mba said sympathisers of political parties from other states are currently in Edo because the election is taking place in an off-cycle season.
“You understand that this is an off-cycle election; this is one of the challenges we have to deal with,” he added.
“This is something we need to deal with. Whenever there is an off-cycle election, it simply means that there are a lot of spare hands from other states of the federation, so you are going to have party members from all divides.
“If you look at it now, you are going to find sympathisers of all main political parties contesting this election.”
The DIG said it is the responsibility of the police to provide security to everyone, including journalists, observers, and politicians, who are the state for the election.
Though there are a total of 17 candidates vying to replace Godwin Obaseki as governor, the main contenders are Olumide Akpata of the Labour Party, Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (APC) and Monday Okpebholo, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
