The Federal Capital Territory  (FCT)  Police Commissioner, Mr John Haruna, says the Police will deploy about 10,000 officers ahead of the April 10 FCT area council poll.

Haruna disclosed this recenlty in Abuja when the Director General of National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Idi Farouk, paid him a courtesy call in his office.

“We have had series of meetings on the political activities in the FCT, aimed at having a free and fair election in the territory.

“Previous elections have helped us to learn from our past mistakes on how we have been conducting elections in the country;” he said.

According to Haruna, his Command would collaborate with all the stakeholders in ensuring a hitch-free poll in the FCT.

In his remarks earlier, Farouk said the purpose of the visit was to consider ways of working with the police to ensure successful conduct of the 2011 general elections beginning with the April 10, 2010 FCT Area Council poll.

“Although our democracy has been largely successful, there is no doubt that past elections had faced a gamut of challenges which include the need for sufficient and sustainable voters’ education and the need for collaboration among stakeholders towards credible elections .

“In spite of the enormity of these challenges, the police must be commended for its continued display of unflinching resolve and commitment to enriching our electoral process,’’ Farouk said.

According to him, there is a need for concerted efforts by all stakeholders not only to inspire confidence and hope in the integrity of the police but also to ensure that elections in Nigeria are held with minimal challenges.

“As the complementing agency, NOA realises the great task ahead which can be made simple by the collaborative efforts of our two organisations,’’ he said.

He used the opportunity to appeal to FCT residents to shun violence.