A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) women leader in Kogi State, Princess Grace Iye Adejoh has expressed serious concerns over the deployment of heavy military and other security personnel to the state, saying it may scare intending voters from coming out to vote on the day of election.
The Federal Government, it was learnt had deployed 20,0000 soldiers,20,0000 police, 10,000 DSS operatives aside from other security agencies to the state for the Saturday poll.
The PDP women leader in a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja expressed fear that in spite of the heavy deployment of the security personnel, there were still reported cases of killings and violence especially in the Eastern flank of the state.
She cited some recent killings and violence that took place in Ayingba, Abocho, Ajaka and Ejule and called on the security not to compromise their integrity as there are rumours that the ranks of the military personnel might have been infiltrated by thugs who were given police and military uniforms to wreak havoc to the opposition.
Princess Grace Iye Adejoh also questioned the rationale behind the heavy presence of the military in the Eastern flank alone especially in Ayingba while other senatorial districts did not witness such and said it was a ploy designed to create fear so as to suppress the voters in that area.
While citing her experience during the 2019 governorship election when she wanted to cast her vote at her polling unit in Ayingba, she said thugs invaded her polling unit and carted away the ballot boxes right in the presence of security personnel who refused to act but looked the other way.
The women leader said the same thing should not be allowed to repeat itself in this Saturday election, saying the Inspector- General of Police and other heads security agencies should walk their talk
of making the state safe during and after the election.
The women leader however called on the voters not to exercise any fear but to come out in their large numbers on Saturday to exercise their franchise.
She also called on INEC to ensure that the vote counts and that voters be given free hand to choose their leaders and not to gang up with the ruling party to rig the election, saying all eyes are on them.
The women leader also called on president Bola Tinubu to ensure that the off circle election in the three states was devoid of violence as this would be his litmus test since he assumed office.