The Lagos State Police Command has announced restriction of movement over elections into the vacant seats of the Lagos East Senatorial and Kosofe 2 Constituency, Lagos State House of Assembly, holding on Saturday December 5,2020.
The state Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu said restriction of movement would last between 6am and 6pm.
The affected Local Government Areas for the two legislative seats include Epe, Ibeju Lekki, Kosofe, Somolu and Ikorodu.
Recall that the two seats became vacant due to demise of their occupants, Senator Adebayo Osinowo who died on June 15, 2020 and Tunde Braimoh, who died on July 10, 2020 respectively.
In a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the restriction was to ensure free, fair and credible bye elections.
The statement added that Odumosu made the declaration on Thursday while deliberating on the strategies put in place with the election monitoring officers deployed from the Force Headquarters, Abuja to the state.
The election monitoring team comprised two Commissioners of Police, some Assistant Commissioners of Police and other officers, led by the Commissioner of Police, Community Policing, Force Headquarters, Kola Okunola.
Odumosu stated further that the command had deployed a reasonable number of police personnel and other security agents to cover and provide security at the 1,928 polling units in the areas.
The Commissioner of Police reiterated that there won’t be both vehicular and pedestrian movement in and out of the affected the Local Government Areas during the elections except those on election duties, essential services and accredited domestic and foreign election observers.
The police commissioner, however warned the electorate and political gladiators to play the game according to the rules and provisions of the Electoral Acts 2010.
He also warned that no police aides or security agents would be allowed to escort their principals or any Very Important Personalties to polling units or on any movement while the elections lasted.
He stated that any security aides violating this directive “will be arrested and caused to face the full weight of the law.”