The Kwara State Police Command yesterday expressed readiness to ensure a peaceful election and vowed to deal with anyone with the intention of jeopardizing the exercise.

The command also asked vulcanizers who display unused tyres in front of their shops to remove them to prevent a situation where the tyres would be used to set bonfires on the highways.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Salihu Garba, who briefed newsmen on the preparedness of the police, said, "it would be out of place for people who specialize in fixing automobile tyres to display unused tyres during election period. If there is anything, these unused tyres could be used to make bonfires on the highways and we won't tolerate that. We are begging them to please move them before my people pack them and that would be final". The commissioner stressed that no individual or candidate of any political party, no matter how highly placed, would be allowed to move about during election except those on essential duties.

He said: "No dignitary would be allowed to go about on election days with security men. The law cannot be violated here in Kwara State; we are not going to tolerate it. We will do our best to ensure that uniformed personnel do not accompany people to polling units.

"But there is exception. Like tomorrow (today), if the deputy governor wants to travel to his village for election, there is no way we can say that he should not be accorded police escort. But this is not to say on Election Day, he would go to the polling unit with the uniformed security men".

He allayed fear of police personnel going on strike, saying all issues relating to allowances have been resolved. The commissioner said the command has also started paying allowances for personnel on election duty.

"We are working in collaboration with other security agencies. Even yesterday we had a meeting on how to balance manpower. So we are in synergy. No single outfit would be doing the patrol alone", he added.