The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has charged police officers to boost the security in the country towards guaranteeing a crime-free and enabling environment for political campaigns ahead of the 2023 general election.
The IGP noted that that following the announcement by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the commencement of electioneering campaigns by all political parties from September 28, 2022, the national political space will become very active and susceptible to increase in politically related offences.
Baba made this known via a statement issued on Thursday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi.
Adejobi stated that the IGP tasked “all Strategic Police Managers on discharging their duties before, during, and after the electioneering process in line with the dictates of the Electoral Act 2022, and the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Security Personnel on Election Duty issued in 2020 by the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
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“Similarly, the IGP emphasised the fact that all quasi-security outfits established by various state governments and local communities operating under different nomenclatures, structures, and orientations have no legal roles under the Electoral Act and in the electoral process.
“He therefore directed all Police Managers to ensure they are not utilised by political or community actors for any role during the electioneering campaign and other electoral processes as such would amount to an illegality, a threat to national security, and inimical to the nation’s democratic interest.
“The IGP urged all Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police in charge of Zonal and State Commands to work assiduously and engage an all-inclusive approach by liaising with Resident Electoral Commissioners, leadership of political parties in their commands and all relevant stakeholders, increase intelligence gathering activities, and upscale deployments to achieve the goal of re-energising the Force to sustain a stable internal security order,” the statement read.
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