Calabar, October 29, 2024 – Ahead of the November 2, 2024 local government elections, Cross River State Commissioner of Police, CP Gryogon Augustine Grimah, has assured residents of a peaceful and secure electoral process.
Speaking to the press following a security briefing led by Governor Bassey Otu, on Monday, Grimah emphasised the commitment of the state’s security apparatus to safeguarding the democratic exercise.
The security meeting, which took place at the governor’s temporary office, was attended by the Deputy Governor, as well as senior officials from other security agencies, including the State Security Adviser, Major General Ubi Obono (rtd), and Chief of Staff Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar.
Commissioner Grimah highlighted that the focus of the gathering was to fine-tune strategies to maintain order and ensure a seamless election experience.
“It was critical that we had to meet ahead of the election in order to strategise to ensure a peaceful exercise,” Grimah stated. “The people of Cross River State are known for their peaceful nature, and we are confident that this would be reflected before, during, and after the elections.”
With an assurance that the environment would be secure, the police commissioner urged citizens to freely exercise their voting rights. He noted that a coordinated deployment of resources across security agencies in the state had been achieved, aimed at ensuring both voter safety and the preservation of law and order.
While Grimah assured citizens of a conducive environment for voting, he also issued a stern warning to any individuals contemplating acts of violence or disruptions during the election. “Anyone considering disrupting the peace and harmony of the state during the elections should abandon those thoughts now. We are all peace-loving people, and I urge everyone to work towards a peaceful election for the benefit of our state,” he warned.
Grimah closed by urging Cross River residents to embrace the prevailing peace in the state and come out to vote, confident in the security measures in place.