2023 Elections: Police Ban Movement Of VIP Aides, Escorts

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Usman Alkali has ordered that vehicle movements be limited throughout Nigeria ahead of the 2023 general elections.

“Consequent to the first part of the 2023 General Elections – the Presidential and National Assembly Elections – scheduled to hold on Saturday 25th February 2023 across all States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, psc(+), NPM, NEAPS, FDC, CFR, has ordered a restriction of all forms of vehicular movement on roads, waterways, and other forms of transportation, from 12 am to 6 pm on election day with the exception of those on essential services such as INEC officials, electoral observers, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, etc,” Force spokesman Muyiwa Adejobi said in a late Wednesday statement.

He added that the change was required to maintain peace and order and to guarantee a safe atmosphere for the elections in 2023.

Also, the IGP prohibited security aides and escorts from following politicians and other public figures to polling places and centers for election collation during the polls.

The police warned that “anyone found flouting this directive will be severely sanctioned. He emphasizes that only security personnel specifically assigned to election duties are to be seen within and around the designated election booths and centres.

“Also, the ban on the unauthorized use of sirens, revolving lights, covered number plates, and tinted glasses is still in force, and violators would be sanctioned appropriately. All State-established and owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately owned guard and security outfits are also barred from participating in election security management.”

The police chief who empathised with Nigerians over the development called on voters to be law-abiding and turn up at their polling units on Saturday.

“He, however, warns that the Force will deal decisively with any individual(s) or group(s) that might want to test our common resolve and might to ensure a peaceful election,” the statement further quoted the IGP as saying.

“The IGP, therefore, enjoins all citizens to shun vote buying, vote selling, hate speech, misinformation, and disinformation, snatching of ballot boxes, and other criminal act(s) as the Force and other security agencies will leave no stone unturned in ensuring that all violators of extant laws, most especially the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to book.”