Roundup: Nigeria to hold governorship elections amid tight security

Water-tight security measures have been put in place in Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, ahead of Saturday's governorship elections in 31 out of its 36 states, local security authorities and the electoral body said on Friday.

In a bid to further ensure safety and security in the gubernatorial and state congresses elections, the Nigeria police headquarters ordered a restriction of vehicular movement in all the states where the election will be held. This restriction, authorities said, excludes vehicles on essential duty such as fire service, ambulances and vehicles used by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigeria's electoral body, and law enforcement and security agencies.

There is no restriction of vehicular movement in the Nigerian capital Abuja, as there is no election taking place there on April 11.

"The Inspector General of Police assures that adequate security logistics and manpower have been strategically deployed to achieve a most conducive electioneering atmosphere. In this regard, policemen for election duty have been properly briefed on their roles as stipulated in the (Nigerian) Electoral Act," said a statement signed by Emmanuel Ojukwu, national spokesman of the police.

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps said, also, in addition to the earlier deployment made during the recent presidential election, it has deployed thousands of its personnel for Saturday's governorship polls.

"As stakeholders in Nigeria's electoral process, the corps is expected to re-double its effort and work hard to deliver a violence free election," said a statement signed by Okeh Emmanuel, national spokesman of the paramilitary agency.

The statement added: "efforts have been put in place by the government to make the exercise smooth and hitch-free, hence its deployment of personnel to every nooks and crannies of the state especially the identified flash-points considered notorious and volatile".

At least 500 trained sniffer dogs, 300 operational vehicles, 100 surveillance vehicles and ambulances have been deployed to some states in the country by the security agency, to further boost the security of the electorates, electoral officials as well as sensitive and non-sensitive materials before, during and after the election.

Nigeria's defense chief Alex Badeh, while assuring citizens of maximum security during the polls, said observers would further commend the military for providing adequate security in ensuring free, fair and violence free elections.

The presidential election held in Nigeria on March 28, though adjudged a peaceful exercise, was not without few security hiccups following sporadic attacks allegedly perpetrated by Boko Haram militants in the northeast region of the country.

In no time, everything was put under control as security agencies lived up to their avowed responsibility of ensuring safety of lives and property during the polls.

Ahead of Saturday's polls, the Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan had ordered the closure of the country's borders, starting from Thursday midnight to Sunday midnight.

The Nigerian leader said he took the decision to ensure smooth running of the elections and that non-Nigerians do not participate in any part of the election processes.

Meanwhile, the Saturday polls seem to be a two-horse race in most states in Nigeria, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is desperately trying to retain control of the states which it still controls, having lost the presidential election to the country's main opposition party, the All Progressives Congress.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been in power since 1999, and for the first time lost its claim on power to the opposition. Endi