The Kano State Police Command and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) have commended voters in Dawakin Kudu State Constituency for maintaining a peaceful atmosphere as the House of Assembly by-election got underway on Saturday.
The assessment followed a joint monitoring exercise involving the police, INEC and members of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security across polling units in Dawakin Kudu Local Government Area.
The delegation was led by the Kano State Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kano State, Amb. Zango Abdu.
Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, disclosed this in a statement issued on behalf of the commissioner on Saturday.
The team visited several polling locations to examine the deployment of security personnel, observe the conduct of electoral officials and assess voters’ compliance with established guidelines.
The Command said the exercise was proceeding smoothly at the time of the inspection, with voters conducting themselves in an orderly manner and security personnel carrying out their duties professionally.
The peaceful atmosphere was particularly significant given the security restrictions announced before the election.
The police had imposed a movement restriction across Dawakin Kudu from midnight until 5pm on election day. Only people engaged in essential duties and those with valid identification were exempted.
INEC officials, accredited observers, medical personnel, firefighters and journalists were among those permitted to move within the area during the restriction period.
The Command had also prohibited security aides attached to VIPs, political office holders and government officials from accompanying their principals to polling units and collation centres.
Quasi-security outfits, vigilante groups and voluntary organisations were barred from taking part in election security operations or loitering around voting locations.
The police further prohibited firearms and other dangerous weapons around polling venues, while vote-buying, vote-selling and political canvassing within polling areas were also outlawed.
The security framework was backed by the deployment of personnel and operational assets to polling units, Registration Area Centres, collation centres and identified flashpoints throughout the local government.
Joint patrol teams were assigned to enforce the guidelines and respond to any security breach.
Following Saturday’s inspection, the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner commended the security agencies, particularly the Kano State Police Command and other ICCES members, for what he described as effective coordination, professionalism and proactive measures.
The Commissioner of Police, Bakori, also praised residents for their conduct and cooperation with security personnel.
He said the deployment would continue through the collation and announcement of the results, indicating that security arrangements would cover not only voting but also the stages that follow the close of polls.
The police had earlier cautioned parents and guardians against allowing their children or wards to be recruited as political thugs before, during or after the election.
The Command also provided emergency contact lines for residents to report suspicious activity or security concerns.
The Dawakin Kudu exercise is one of the state constituency by-elections taking place in Kano on Saturday. The police said their priority was to preserve public order and provide a secure environment for voters, electoral officials and other accredited participants throughout the process.
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