By Joy Odor Reportcircle News Agwanpashe, Karu
Security authorities on Saturday projected confidence over the ongoing Area Council election in the Federal Capital Territory, declaring that elaborate policing plans would carry the process peacefully “from accreditation to final results.”
The assurance came after a monitoring tour to LEA Primary School, Agwanpashe, Karu, where the Commissioner of Police (CP) in charge of Election Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation (EPM&E) for the Nigeria Police Force, Abayomi Shogunle, PhD, fsi. addressed journalists amid ongoing voting activities.
Standing beside deployed officers and election officials, the Police Chief said early observations across polling units indicated compliance with the operational security order.
“Based on the plans we have on ground, we don’t expect any disturbance. From what we have seen since accreditation and voting started, everything is going on as expected,” he said.
According to him, the heavy security presence was deliberate not a reaction to threats.
He explained that massive deployment approved by the Inspector-General of Police was designed both to guarantee safety and discourage potential troublemakers.
“The deployment serves two purposes to ensure the exercise proceeds without hindrance and to deter anyone who may want to disrupt the election.
The Commissioner also clarified the vehicular movement restriction that left many roads unusually quiet across the FCT.
Only security agencies, electoral officials, observers, medical emergencies and accredited media were permitted to use vehicles, while voters were expected to reach polling units on foot.
“Voting areas are close to where people reside. Citizens are free to move around and vote, but vehicles are restricted except for essential duties.”
Despite the restrictions, he confirmed that residents were moving freely within neighbourhoods to cast ballots.
When questioned about reports of a local herbal drug seller operating near a polling unit earlier in the day, the police chief acknowledged the incident but dismissed it as non-threatening.
He admitted election officials expressed discomfort with the vendor’s proximity to the voting area but insisted it had no operational impact.
“Is it affecting the election? It is not affecting the election,” he maintained.
With voting underway, the police urged residents to participate without fear, assuring them protection throughout the process.
“Let everybody come out and cast their votes.
There is no reason for intimidation. What you are seeing here is the same situation across the FCT.”
He added that the security strategy was built on deterrence and proactive monitoring, designed to prevent problems before they arise — especially towards result collation.
At Agwanpashe, voters queued peacefully under the watch of armed personnel, while electoral officials processed accreditation steadily.
For security agencies, the real test lies ahead, not the morning calm, but the hours when results begin to emerge.
For now, authorities said the message is simple: the plan is holding and they intend to hold the peace until the last ballot is counted.
