BENIN CITY-The Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, political party loyalists and members of the public in the state have lauded the state police command and other security agents for providing adequate security before, during and after the just concluded governorship primaries in Edo State.
They gave the commendation while appraising security situation during and after the exercise which took place at different locations before climaxing at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Hon. Ativie enjoined security operatives, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and political parties in the state to sustain and replicate the peaceful conduct witnessed in the Edo 2016 gubernatorial primaries.
“The security outfit and activities have been perfectly done, no body is quarrelling, if you have any issue you just meet them (policemen) and they will sought it out for you.
“This arrangements today should be replicated in subsequent elections, this has helped to douse tension”. The speaker stated.
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who spoke during the recent factional primary of the party at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium stated that the security operatives proved to be apolitical and non-partisan in their duties.
“What you see here now (security measure) is not different from what we witnessed during APC primary.
“The commissioner of police was on ground and he is equally around now.
“Though I don’t know heads of other security agents but from what I’m observing, they are all at alert, I think this is how it should be. He maintained.
“Our reporter investigation revealed that the state commissioner of police Mr Chris Ezike and the Director of Department of State Services (DSS) Mr Halilu Ibrahim personally monitored activities of their men during the exercise.
It will be recalled that prior to the commencement of the primaries the commissioner of police disclosed that the command deployed over 1,200 personnel to provide water-tight security for the exercise.
He said that the entire 7,871 workforce of the state police command along with some operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) and other security agencies were put on red alert.
“I want to say that the police in conjunction with other security services are ready to do the needful, to provide safety and security to the delegates, officials, aspirants themselves and their agents.
“We are also ready to provide security to the good people of Edo State so that there will not be any bitterness, rancour and acrimony in the course of the primaries.
“As you are aware the party sets the rules in the primaries, so our jobs is to police the rules as set, however, violence is not a tool in an election”. CP Ezike stated.
