2019 Polls: Police Task Politicians On Peaceful Conduct

By Niyi Olutunde, Akure

Ahead of the 16th February presidential and National Assembly elections, the Nigeria Police Force has tasked politicians, electorate and other stakeholders to conduct themselves on peaceful manner before, during and after the coming elections.

The Deputy Inspector General of Police(DIG), in-charge of Operations and a Supervising DIG for the election in the South-West geo-political zone of the country, Mr. Jubril Yakubu, said this during signing of peace accord by political parties on Monday in Akure, Ondo state capital.

Yakubu said that political gladiators in the state should ensure peaceful conduct of election through their collaboration with the security agents and electoral body.

According to him, police and other security agencies will ensure neutrality and impartiality.

“All security agencies are one and we know what to do. We will be punctual at our duty posts ensuring that the election are held as expected under peaceful atmosphere.

“We are not going to be partisan because we don’t have anybody or any political party in mind,” Yakubu said.

Yakubu promised that vote buying and vote selling would not have their take during the election, saying that measure had been put in place to dissuade that especially at polling booths.

He, therefore, charged electorate to be law-abiding so that there would be no unnecessary wranglings.

In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner ,(REC) in the state, Mr Rufus Akeju, reiterated the electoral body’s readiness for free, fair and credible elections.

Akeju assured that INEC would do every legal thing to allow level playing ground for all political parties during and after the elections, calling on them to allow peace to reign.h

While speaking on behalf of all political parties, Mr Gbenga Joseph of Social Democratic Party (SDP), appreciated the gesture of Nigeria Police in ensuring that there would be no crisis emanating from the elections.

Joseph, who is senatorial candidate of SDP in Ondo Central Senatorial district, pleaded with the police to implement all their promises so that electorate would have more confidence in the system.

No fewer than 15 political parties attended the peace accord such as African Democratic Congress (ADC), All Progressive Party (APC), Social Democratic Party (SDP) among others.