The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC) in Kogi State on Monday deployed over 1,000 personnel to all parts of the state in a bid to avert the breakdown of law and order before and after today’s anticipated Supreme Court ruling on the dispute over the state gubernatorial election.

Former Governor Wada and James Faleke, who was the running mate to late Abubakar Audu in the November 21, 2015 governorship election, had both appealed the decision of an Appeal Court, which upheld the election of Governor Yahaya Bello.

Security agencies have also embarked on a show of force, patrolling the state capital, Lokoja, in Ford Ranger vehicles donated recently by Bello.

With sirens blaring across nooks and crannies, the move aimed fear in the hearts of unscrupulous persons who may use the ruling as pretext to perpetrate violence.

In many parts of the state, prayer and fasting sessions, which had held sway since the Appeal Court judgment, took a fresh dimension, with many residents passing the nights in mosques and churches, seeking divine intervention.

Even Bello’s camp, which believes the judgment would not be different from previous ones, called for special prayers for their principal.

State NSCDC commandant, Everestus Obiyo, vowed that the corps would deal with any individual who disturbed public peace.

Recently, the administrator, Ijumu Local Government and chairman, Association of Local Governments of Nigeria, (ALGON) Kogi State, Taufiq Isa, directed all political appointees in Ijumu and the Alhaji Taufiq Solidarity Groups to observe a one-day fast and prayer on the judgment.

In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Othman Hamidu, the administrator stressed the need for all to support the governor with prayers and for continuation of the New Direction Agenda, “as we await final judgment of which 80 per cent success has been achieved in both the Tribunal and Appeal Court.

Omala Local Government Administrator, Ibrahim Yakubu Aboh, and the Special Adviser to the governor on Special Duties, Akoh Adaidu, had also called on the people of Omala to embark on fasting and prayers ahead today’s judgment.

•Adapted from a Guardian report. Photo shows NSCDC operatives.

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