Ondo poll: Heavy security at INEC office; FRSC, Police collaborate to enforce restriction of vehicular movement

Security has been beefed up at the state headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Akure, Ondo State, as the commission prepares for the Saturday governorship election in the South-West state.
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and others were seen at the INEC office located at Government Reserved Area (GRA), Alagbaka, Akure.
Armed security personnel in their patrol vehicles were observed at strategic positions at the entrance gate and major road leading to the INEC state office.
Aside the mounted road blocks at the main roads leading to the office, some of the security personnel were also seen with sniffer dogs in and around the premises of the office.
There was stop and search of persons coming into the office at the gate.
1,478,460 voters who had collected their permanent voter cards are expected to participate in the election holding at 3,009 polling units in the 18 local government of the state, with 12 political parties in the contest.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has ordered operatives of the Corps deployed to cover the Ondo governorship election to ensure effective collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force in the enforcement of restrictions on vehicular movement.
The Corps Marshal, FRSC, Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, said this in a statement by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO), Bisi Kazeem, on Friday in Abuja.
Oyeyemi said the order became imperative owing to the election.
According to him, the Corps operatives drafted to cover the election have equally been mandated to clear obstructions from the roads.
“They have been ordered to carry out rescue operations in case of emergencies, maintain orderliness in polling booths and the certification of INEC Vehicles that will be used to convey electoral materials.
The Corps Marshal had earlier stated that 1,500 personnel of the Corps and 35 vehicles including tow trucks, ambulances have been deployed.
The measures would strengthen enforcement of the restriction during the entire process of the election.