The Nasarawa State Police Command has warned political parties and their supporters to avoid any form of electoral violence during their campaigns ahead of the 2023 general elections.
Adesina Soyemi, the state Commissioner of Police, issued the warning on Sunday during a meeting with state Chairmen, Secretaries of political parties, and the Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission in Lafia.
He explained that the meeting was held in accordance with the Inspector-General of Police, Alkali Baba’s, directive to ensure the successful conduct of the 2023 general election.
Soyemi said, “I want to warn sternly that all political parties and actors must subsume their campaigns within extant legal frameworks and avoid actions or speeches that could inflame the political order.
“I also want to warn individuals whose perception of democracy is the application of violence, to have a rethink because the police are committed to dealing firmly with such characters within the dictates of the law.
“All political parties are expected to apply for permission to hold rallies 72 hours before such rallies are held. Safety and security of all attendees will be put into consideration before granting approval.
“On no account will two political parties be allowed to carry out their campaigns within the same vicinity simultaneously, which is likely to cause violence and breach of public peace.”
The commissioner promised that the police would provide impartial security for all persons and property involved in the electoral process.
“I want to emphatically assure you that ahead of the electioneering process and the 2023 general election, all police officers and men serving in the command have been charged to be neutral, alert and display high degree of professionalism and fairness in their dealings with political parties”, he added.
Uthman Ajidagba, the Nasarawa State Resident Electoral Commissioner, assured of the commission’s commitment to deliver credible elections in 2023 in his remarks.
Ajidagba, who was represented by INEC’s State Administrative Secretary, Usman Wase, added that the commission would provide a level playing field for all political parties and urged them to work together to ensure a smooth electoral process in the state.
In separate remarks, the state Chairman of the Labour Party, Alexander Emmanuel; the state Organising Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Hassan Abubakar; and the state Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Adamu Bako, among others, praised the police for the initiative and pledged to uphold the laws governing the 2023 elections.
