The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mohammed Adamu has assured that the Nigeria Police Force is fully prepared to deal with any action that may likely lead to a breakdown of law and order, ahead of Saturday’s Governorship and House of Assembly elections.
The IGP stated this on Tuesday while briefing State House Correspondents after attending the Service Chiefs’ meeting with President Muhamamdu Buhari.
Adamu warned electorate against trouble making and said the security agencies have been rejigged to ensure effective coverage of all polling units. He further stated that measures have been taken to deal with those who may want to disrupt the polls.
“We will again advise those that will want to disrupt the process to rethink because during the presidential election, we had some few challenges here and there. We will not allow those challenges to repast themselves. We are taking more security measures to address those pockets of challenges we noticed.”
The tough stand by the Police may be connected with the planned protest being organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“So thuggery again is not allowed, ballot snatching is not allowed, disruption of the election process is not allowed. We, the security personnel have resolved to deal ruthlessly with anybody that attempts to disrupt the process of this election.
Adamu said the security meeting was part of regular security briefings with Mr. President and that it was also convened to enable the service chiefs assess the state of preparedness ahead of Saturday’s gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections.
Adamu advised all Nigerians of voting age with their Permanent Voters Cards to come out and cast their votes without fear, adding that “security arrangements we provided during the presidential elections are being enhanced so as to provide an enabling environment for everybody to come out and cast his or her vote for their preferred candidates.
“For that reason, we expect that in every state, the conduct of the election should be respected.
“We expect that electoral materials must not be tempered with, we expect that the INEC officials would do their work without fear or favour and without being allowed to compromise. In the same way, the security personnel are to perform their duties without allowing themselves to be compromised. So, we have heightened the security arrangement to make sure that the election goes without any hitch.
Responding to questions about those who disrupted the last election, Adamu said the “Police made a number of arrests all over the country but probably we shall come out with the number of arrests we have made in terms of those that disrupted the process of the election in some areas within the country. We have a lot of arrests.”
