Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Frank Mba, has said the ban on Edo State Security Network from participating in the September 21 governorship election, was in line with the Electoral Act.
Frank Mba said the Electoral Act did not recognize vigilante groups and other non-conventional security outfits during election exercises.
Mba, who stated this on Sunday, during Edo Election Security Townhall, explained that about 35,000 policemen have been deployed to Edo State for the Saturday election.
He said, “By law, by convention and by practice vigilantes and non-conventional security outfits are never part of the electoral process and you can fact-check this.
“Look at all our elections, our positions have never changed, we have never altered, we’ve not done anything, the Inspector General Police has not said anything or done anything that is out of the books and politicians knew this.
“But guess what? Politicians will always be politicians. In the last general election whether you are looking at the southeast or whether you are looking at the southwest look through the entire length and breadth of the country, we expressly and in very strong terms and we walked our talk in making sure that non-conventional security outfits did not or are not allowed to participate in the electoral process.”
Responding to a question if policemen would arrest Edo Security Network personnel if found around polling stations, he answered: “Exactly, because as a matter of fact that would be a breach of the Electoral Act. I mean under the Electoral Act, the law clearly states the agencies that can participate in policing the electoral space.”
Mba explained that except for Governor Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, policemen attached to other politicians in the state will be withdrawn.
“We will clearly demobilize, and deactivate orderlies and VIP protection personnel 48 hours before the election but naturally, the governor and deputy governor will keep personal security but these personnel are not allowed to accompany them to the electoral ground,” he added.
