Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The Inspector general of police,Dr Kayode Egbetokun has asked Politicians and the electorates in Kogi State to allow the police and sister security agencies deployed to the state for Saturday’s Election do their jobs without being subjected to blackmail.

The IG was speaking on Tuesday in Lokoja at the statekeholders meeting organised by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, Kogi State.

Dr Egbetokun represented by the state police Commissioner,Bertrend Onuoha said also urged the politicians to play the game according to the rules already paid down by the Constitution to avoid heat up the polity before, during and after the election.

He lamented the way the police and other Security agencies were being blackmailed in the course of doing their constitutional duty of ensuring free and fair electioneeing processes.

He however said that “no amount of blackmail will stop us from performing constitutional duties of ensuring that the the election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere”.

He warned would be trouble makers to have a rethink or even relocate especially during the election from the state as the it will be too unpleasant for them.

“Election will come and go,but we will still be living together as neighbours, brothers, sisters and families, how will that be possible if you have created tension among yourselves because of an election”.

Earlier,the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Longpet had outlined the preparedness of the commission towards the November 11 Governoship election.

He said every machineries have been set in motion,such as the training of Ad-hoc staff, while the non sensitive materials have started arriving since Monday and being kept safe until distribution to Registration areas, RAC centers across the state.

He said that the commission has received assurances from all the Security agencies to make the state safe for a free and fair Election.