By Mardiyyah Abubakar
The Ebonyi State Police Command has deployed personnel across the state ahead of Saturday’s local government elections and announced a statewide restriction on movement from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on election day.
The elections will hold on August 22 across all 13 Local Government Areas of the state.
The Police Command says it has deployed officers to polling stations and strategic locations to protect voters, electoral officials and residents throughout the exercise.
The Command’s spokesperson, SP Joshua Ukandu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.
He say the Commissioner of Police, Hope Okafor, had directed the deployment and ordered the Command to work with other security agencies to provide adequate security before, during and after the elections.
According to him, the joint security operation aims to create a safe environment where eligible voters can cast their ballots without intimidation or harassment.
Movement Restriction
The police said residents must remain within their locations during the election, as vehicular and human movement will be restricted across Ebonyi from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
However, the restriction will not apply to people carrying out essential or election-related duties.
Those exempted include:
* Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission (EBSIEC) officials
* Accredited journalists
* Certified election observers
* Emergency medical responders
* Health workers
* Authorised security personnel
* Other approved essential-service workers
The police said exempted persons must carry valid identification and official accreditation to enable security personnel to verify them at checkpoints.
Police Warn Political Actors
The Commissioner of Police also warned politicians, party leaders, candidates and their supporters against inflammatory statements, provocative actions and any conduct capable of disrupting the election.
She said security personnel would arrest and prosecute anyone who attempts to cause a breakdown of law and order.
Okafor urged voters to remain peaceful, obey lawful instructions from security officers and avoid any action capable of disrupting the electoral process.
She assured residents that the police, working with other security agencies, had put adequate measures in place to protect the people and ensure a peaceful and hitch-free election.
The Ebonyi State Independent Electoral Commission had earlier fixed August 22, 2026, for the local government elections across the state.
