Baba Negedu 
As part of the preparation for the Local Government elections holding today in Kogi and Kaduna states, the authorities in both states have restricted movements and put in place, security measures to ensure peaceful and fair elections across the two states.
In Kaduna, the State Security Council imposed a restriction of movement from 6am to 7pm today while Kogi said it is restricting movement from 6am to 4pm.
The Kaduna police spokesman, ASP Mansir Hassan in a statement said the Command has implemented major deployments of personnel and resources to polling units, collation centers and other critical locations to-guarantee the safety of voters and election officials.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo Government while announcing restrictions on vehicular movement between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m., said the decision was made to ensure a hitch-free council poll in the state.
He said the decision is to guarantee the security of voters and citizens across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Already, the state government has directed security agencies to enforce the order in the interest of the people and to ensure that offenders are punished,” he said.
Fanwo called on citizens to come out in force to participate in the local government elections to elect their representatives in the local government areas. He assured prospective voters of adequate security as they exercise their franchise.
“We also wish to express confidence in the capacity of the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to organise a free, fair, and credible council poll across the state.
“We hereby urge citizens to be peaceful and to make their choices known through the ballot.”
According to him, it is pertinent to call on citizens to make democracy a free will of the people and to prioritise the power of the ballot over the bullet.
He stated that the state government would do everything within the precincts of the law to maintain law and order for the growth and development of the state.
In Kaduna, the police said after the signing of a peace accord by the chairmen of political parties, a measure aimed at promoting peaceful conduct before, during, and after the election period, the commissioner of Police, CP Gyoyon Augustine Grimah, urged all political actors and the general public to adhere to the law and respect the peace accord throughout the process.
He advised that while the election is ongoing the public should be security conscious of their environment and report suspicious activities or persons to the nearest security formation and assured the public of its continuous dedication to safeguarding the democratic process and ensuring that the elections are conducted in a safe and orderly manner.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, in a statement said, the restriction of movement is to ensure peaceful, orderly conduct of the elections.
He said, “By this notice, vehicular movement, as well as commercial and other related activities which may constitute impediments to law and order are to cease within the period of the restriction (6am to 7pm on Saturday).
“Only persons performing essential duties are exempt from this restriction, and may move during the period with proper identification and clearance.
“Citizens are thus advised to refrain from actions that could disrupt public peace or affect smooth conduct of the elections. Security agencies have been deployed to ensure enforcement and compliance.”He said.
