Be neutral on election duty, IGP tells officers

Ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial and state Houses of Assembly elections, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP, Suleiman Abba has warned officers and men of the police force against impartiality and partisanship while performing their constitutional duty of providing safe and secured environment for the electorate to exercise their franchise.
Instead, the IGP tasked his men to exercise a high sense of professionalism in their conduct on election duties as laid down in the Police Regulations and the Standard Operational Guidelines.
According to a statement issued yesterday by the Force Public Relations Officer and acting Commissioner of Police, CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, the police chief stressed that the officers should adopt an attitude of complete neutrality, and impartiality in carrying out their duties in connection with the election, even as he directed that all officers involved in election duties should be firm, fair and approachable to all parties.
The statement further said IGP Abba enjoined his men to take charge of security at Polling Units and Collation Centres as the Police is the leading law enforcement agency.
In another statement, the IGP re-affirmed the commitment of the Police Force to ensure hitch free gubernatorial April 11 polls.
Ojukwu’s statement said the number one policeman in Nigeria also warned all trouble makers that may attempt to foment trouble before, during and after the elections to desist from such or face the unpleasant consequences.
The statement reads further: “Stern measures have also been mapped out to stop trouble makers in their tracks, as acts of impunity will not be tolerated. The Police High Command has further identified flash points in some geo-political zones, and has devised strategies to address all issues of safety and security as concerns the election.
“Furthermore, the IGP states that the Force will continue to encourage a level playing ground to all. He advised Nigerians to vote and maintain tranquility for the smooth running of the election. He equally advised party leaders to implore their supporters to shun any act of violence/thuggery, as the full weight of the law will rest on trouble makers.”