Ondo polls: Police bar Amotekun from security duties

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun has barred the Ondo State Security Network, known as the Amotekun Corps, from participating in the election process. This directive also extends to all quasi-security organisations, including local Vigilante Corps, reinforcing that only federally authorised agencies will oversee election security.

According to a statement by Force Public Relations Officer ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the responsibility for securing the election lies exclusively with the Nigeria Police Force and other federal security agencies, as coordinated by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).

This decision underscores the federal government’s commitment to maintaining a unified security strategy across all regions of the country, particularly during sensitive electoral periods.

IGP Egbetokun reassured the Ondo public of the police force’s dedication to a peaceful and orderly election, covering all 18 Local Government Areas, 203 Wards, and 3,933 Polling Units. He further outlined comprehensive measures, including the deployment of specially trained personnel, advanced security equipment, and resources, all aimed at preventing any form of disruption during the election.

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The exclusion of Amotekun, a state-backed corps focused on local security in Southwestern Nigeria, is expected to have a considerable impact on security dynamics in the region.

While Amotekun has gained public support in Ondo and neighbouring states for tackling local threats, Egbetokun’s directive signals a federal preference for centralised control over election security to minimise potential biases or conflicts of interest.

The IGP’s stance is consistent with previous measures during election cycles where local security outfits were similarly restricted. Analysts note that this directive emphasises the federal government’s intention to mitigate election-related violence by centralising the authority for election security under nationally coordinated agencies.

As Ondo residents prepare to cast their votes, attention remains on how this security arrangement will influence voter turnout, particularly in rural areas where Amotekun’s presence is most prominent.

The Nigeria Police Force, along with the ICCES, is anticipated to closely monitor all security developments, assuring voters that their safety is paramount during the election period.