By Gowon Emakpe
With political campaign for 2023 elections set to kick off, Inspector General of Police IGP, Usman Alkali Baba, has announced a ban on all quasi-security outfits during the electioneering processes
Force Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in statement on Thursday said the IGP issued the directive during a strategic Police manager’s meeting in Abuja with officers from the Commissioners of Police and above in the Nigeria Police Force to seek feedbacks on policing and internal security developments
Baba also warned that the Force is set to deal with any individual involved in violence as he banned all quasi-security outfits during the process of the 2023 general election.
“Convey the decision banning all quasi-security outfits in the various States and local communities from electioneering campaigns and other politically related activities to your State Governors, Local Government Chairmen, Community Leaders, and leaderships of all political parties in your Commands for their guidance.
In so doing, it should be clearly emphasised to them that any unauthorized quasi-security agent found to be engaging in any election or political activities stands the risk of being arrested and prosecuted along with their collaborators.”
According to him, the main purpose of the Conference is to review the evolving political programmes as laid out by the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and chart clear pathways to ensure a smooth electoral process in the countdown to the 2023 general elections.
Adding that in compliance with Sec. 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022, INEC has confirmed that electioneering campaigns by all political parties would officially commence on 28th September, 2022.
Furthermore, he said the import of this, is that the national political space will soon become active and the possibility of increase in politically related offences may become heightened across the country. As the lead security agency in the election security process, the political campaigns security governance is, primarily, the statutory obligation of the Nigeria Police Force.
“Accordingly, as you return to your Commands to prepare for the electioneering campaigns, the “Commissioners of Police across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT are directed as follows: Liaise with the Resident Electoral Commissioners and the leaderships of all the political parties in your Commands towards mutually coming up with a campaign timetable that will address possible conflicts both in date, time, and venues”, he said.
