Ahead of the bye-election slated for Saturday, February 3, 2024, the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun has ordered the restriction of all forms of vehicular movement and transportation in all states holding bye-elections.
According to the police IG on Thursday, the restriction would commence from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who announced in a statement, listed the states to include: Yobe, Ebonyi, Kebbi, Lagos, Taraba, Benue, Borno, Kaduna, Ondo, Plateau, and Akwa Ibom.
Others are Enugu, Cross River, Delta, Anambra, Jigawa, Katsina, Adamawa, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Kano, Nasarawa, Niger, Oyo, Sokoto, and Zamfara.
Egbetokun, however, clarified that those who are on essential duties during the election, such as officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), accredited journalists, election observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies and firefighters, among others, are excluded from the movement restrictions.
He also ordered 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.
The Police IG also charged political parties, candidates, and their supporters to shun any form of electoral violence during the election.
He further warned that failure to conduct themselves properly and any attempt to disrupt the electoral process or violate the established electoral guidelines would be punished severely by the law.
The police also charged residents in these states to report any violence or lack of compliance with electoral guidelines discovered during the election to the proper authorities.