The Police Command in Kaduna State will deploy 11,000 personnel for the Saturday local government election to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Mudassiru Abdullahi, announced this at the signing of a peace accord by political parties and candidates contesting the election on Tuesday in Kaduna.
The National Daily reports that no fewer than 10 political parties and their candidates signed the accord.
They include the All progressives Congress (APC), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Allied Peoples Movement (APM), among others.
Abdullahi noted that the peace accord was an integral part of the electoral process.
He said, “It is equally important at this juncture that I stand to inform all stakeholders that on our part as security agents and police in particular, we have made a deployment of over 11,000 personnel that will ensure a hitch-free exercise.
“We shall all attest to the fact that the state is currently going through some security challenges which resulted into closure of some schools.
“Therefore, we cannot afford to go into this election to create tension and fear in the minds of those we aspire to protect which is part of the dividends of democracy.’’
The commissioner cautioned the political parties and their supporters against any form of harassment, intimidation, molestation or violence before, during and after the election.
“We are ready to go into the election properly prepared to safeguard lives and property of all citizens,’’ he said.
Abdullahi charged personnel involved in the election to conduct themselves in accordance with the laws and regulations guiding their conduct during elections.
He also charged them to deal decisively with any person or group of persons, who might try to truncate the process.
The Chairperson of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIECOM), Mrs Saratu Audu-Dikko, pleaded with the political parties and residents of the state to ensure a free, fair and credible election.
Audu-Dikko cautioned them against violent acts before, during and after the exercise.