Ahead of the Ondo State governorship election on November 16, the Nigeria Police Force has announced the deployment of a substantial security team to ensure a safe and orderly electoral process. The deployment will include 12,500 conventional police personnel and 400 members of specialized tactical units. The police have committed to a robust security presence across Ondo’s 18 local government areas, as detailed in a directive from Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Suleiman A. Yusuf, signed on behalf of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for Operations.
The incumbent, Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of the All Progressives Congress (APC), is seeking a full term in office, facing competition from former Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and 15 other candidates.
AIG Yusuf’s letter, dated November 7, 2024, directed the mobilization of personnel and resources from various commands nationwide, emphasizing the need for strict adherence to assigned personnel counts and verification of physical presence. The Inspector General of Police instructed specific timelines for unit movements to Akure, with specialized units scheduled to arrive between November 11 and 13. These units include the Special Intervention Squad (SIS), Police Mobile Force (PMF), Special Protection Unit (SPU), Counter-Terrorism Unit (CTU), Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Special Tactical Squad (STS), and Tactical Intelligence Unit (TIU).
The police force’s preparations include 110 vehicles such as 12 Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs), gun trucks, water cannons, patrol vehicles, and ambulances, as well as one helicopter and two drones for aerial surveillance. Twenty gunboats with 80 personnel have been assigned to secure riverine areas. To further enhance security, aerial and maritime patrols are planned to cover the state’s central, northern, and southern senatorial districts.
In line with recent restrictions, the Inspector General of Police has prohibited local security outfits, including the Western Nigeria Security Network, known as Amotekun, and Vigilante Corps, from participating in election-related security operations.