The Inspector General Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, yesterday declared the police will deploy 20, 000 officers, three helicopters and 20 gun-boats to ensure hitch-free election in the forthcoming Rivers National Assembly re-runs.

He spoke while addressing men and officers at Kano Police Command during a two-day working visit to the state.

He said the gun boats were necessary to help ensure peace and order at the water-ways during the exercise.

According to him, the police will replicate the efforts they put in that created atmosphere for peaceful election in Ondo state during the Rivers state re-run.

Idris also disclosed that arrangements have been concluded to commence a housing-scheme programme for low-cadre officers to enable them own a house after retirement.

He pointed out the welfare of men and officers remained his priority.

Speaking yesterday at the flag off of the rehabilitation of the General Hospital Abua, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike accused the All Progressive Congress of plotting to rig the election.

He said this was why the party has refused to campaign for the exercise.

Wike alleged police chiefs met with APC leaders two days ago where they allegedly extracted the promise to send three commissioners to manipulate the process.

He also claimed that APC governors who will be in Rivers on Wednesday for a jamboree are coming with rented crowd.

Wike said: “The APC has nothing to campaign with. That is why they have arranged a one-day jamboree.

“Is the hunger across the country? Or is the lack of projects or the worsening exchange rate?

“Or is the fact that Rivers APC members have done nothing to attract any project to this state? There is nothing for them to campaign with.

“I have approved the Liberation Stadium for their jamboree on Wednesday.

“The visitors will dance and after that leave the state for Rivers people to vote overwhelmingly for PDP candidates.”

He alleged almost all the Divisional Police Officers in the state have been transferred with officers allegedly sympathetic to the APC on their way in.

He urged youths to vehemently defend all polling units and collation centres where the police plan to assist Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to manipulate polls results.

•Sourced from The Nation. Photo shows IGP Idris.

Update news