Vote Buyers, Thugs Won't Go Scot-free, IGP Warns
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, has vowed to arrest and prosecute anyone obstructing campaigns by the opposition political parties as well as politicians indulging in vote buying during the 2023 poll.
Baba, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Operations, Dandaura Mustapha, at the 2022 political parties' summit organised by the Inter Party Advisory Council (IPAC), yesterday, in Abuja, noted that all commissioners of police must provide security for political parties embarking on electioneering in all the nook and cranny of any state.
He stated that any commissioner, who failed to carry out his responsibility within the ambit of the law and decided to dance to the tunes of the governors would be removed.
"On the issue of election violence, the campaign has started. We have been receiving a lot of complains from political parties. It is unfortunate of what is happening this period.
"All the political parties are complaining. It is not only APC or PDP or Labour Party or APGA. Unfortunately, some of our governors as stated by the IG during a meeting with the political parties that they are not helping matters. They have not laid a solid foundation, give other political parties access to campaign programmes. Some try to manipulate the campaign.
"Some even sponsor touts to pursue the opposition, remove billboards and posters and destroy their offices. Based on this, the Inspector General of Police, has categorically directed all the commissioners of police that on no account should any serving or sitting governor stop other political parties from conducting their campaigns in all the nook and cranny of the state.
"This instruction was very clear both in writing and verbal. We have told all the commissioners of police. When it happens, the commissioners of police have been directed to arrest all the hoodlums, no matter where they belong and whoever is sponsoring them; we will arrest them and charge them to court," he said.
While assuring the people, he said, "So, please, rest assured that all political parties are free to go about your lawful businesses. You are free to go to any village conduct your campaign freely and we are going to give you enough security.
“We are encouraging all the aspirants that once you are threatened and you have no access to go round, meet the commissioner of police in charge of that state. They have been directed and warned to provide security for all the aspirants. No matter where they are going, they will attach security."