IGP orders nationwide restrictions of movement on election day in 2023

On election day, all types of vehicular movement must be restricted from 12 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the exception of those providing essential services, such as INEC officials, electoral observers, the press, ambulances responding to medical emergencies, firefighters, among others.

The order, which is a component of measures put in place to guarantee a safe, secure, and favorable environment for the conduct of elections, aims to manage public order, ensure voter safety, and support the security agencies' ineffective policing, preventing hoodlums and criminally inclined individuals from interfering with the electoral process.

The IGP sharply urges all security aides and escorts to refrain from following their principals and politicians to polling booths and collation centers during the election as anyone found flouting this direction would face harsh sanctions, according to police spokesman CSP Muyiwa Adejobi. He emphasizes that only election-related security officers should be seen in and around the authorized polling places and centers.

The use of sirens, rotating lights, covered license plates, and tinted glasses is still prohibited, and offenders will face appropriate punishment. The management of election security is likewise prohibited for all State-established and -owned security outfits/organizations, quasi-security units, and privately-owned guard and security outfits.

"The IGP invites all active electorates to be law-abiding and turn out in large numbers to exercise their right to vote, while sympathizing with well-meaning citizens on the problems the restriction may create. Nonetheless, he issues a warning that the Force will deal ruthlessly with any person(s) or group(s) that could want to undermine our unity and undermine efforts to secure a fair election.

Therefore, the IGP urges all citizens to abstain from 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 stop at nothing to ensure that all offenders of existing laws, most notably the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended), are brought to justice.

"Therefore, the Nigeria Police Force urges all members of the public to get in touch with the Nigeria Police Force and the Joint Election Monitoring and Operations Room based at Force Headquarters, Abuja, via the "NPF Rescue Me App" available on Android and iOS or via the NPF Rescue Me Emergency Toll-free line on 08031230631

to report suspicious people, activities, or request security response. Similar to this, all State Police Commands would issue their respective room numbers for cooperative operations and election-related emergencies.