Edo 2024: Police Urge Voters to Cast Ballots, Return Home

As Edo State prepares for today's governorship election, the Nigeria Police have issued a crucial advisory to residents. Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Frank Mbah, overseeing election security, emphasized that only accredited individuals monitoring the election will be permitted on the streets.

In an interview on Channels Television on Friday, Mbah announced restrictions on vehicular movements from 6 am to 6 pm. This adjusted curfew period reflects the police's responsiveness to citizens' concerns. Notably, sympathizers of political parties from other states have converged on Edo due to the off-cycle nature of the election.

Mbah reaffirmed the police's commitment to providing security for all individuals in the state, including journalists, observers, and politicians. He stressed, "It is important for everybody to know that if you are not accredited to carry out the functions relating to the election, you shouldn’t be out on the streets."

The DIG's guidance was clear: "If you are not an accredited personnel, just go out there, perform your civil duty, cast your votes, and return to your home." Mbah acknowledged the unique challenges posed by the off-cycle election, saying, "You understand that this is an off-cycle election, this is one of the challenges we have to deal with."

As voters head to the polls, the police are poised to maintain law and order, ensuring a peaceful electoral process. With the eyes of the nation on Edo State, the police's proactive measures aim to safeguard the democratic exercise.