Elections: Police will be neutral, act professionally, IGP promises

…As INEC accredits 196 observers

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has vouched for neutrality and professionalism of officers and men of the Nigeria Police in the coming elections. He said the Nigeria Police as the leading election security agency will collaborate with other security agencies including para- military agencies to provide maximum security for personnel, election materials, observers (foreign and domestic) as well as INEC offices at the ward, local government, State offices and National Collation centres as well as youth corpers lodge and Central Bank offices across the country. The acting Inspector General gave the assurance while reeling out security arrangements for the 2019 polls at a briefing by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for accredited observers to the 2019 election in Abuja on Tuesday. Assuring the electorate of free and unhindered access on election days, the police boss said policemen on election duties will not carry firearms but a detachment of armed mobile policemen will be stationed not far from polling units to prevent infractions. Towards this end, Adamu said aside the regular Police officers, 24,000 mobile policemen and 8,000 special protection unit personnel among other specially arranged personnel will be on election duties. Ahead of Saturday’s poll, he said the Force Headquarters has directed all state Police Commissioners to go round with INEC officials to identify polling units and flash points under their commands, adding that they have been engaging stakeholders in the state for perfect understanding. Handling down warning to officers and men of the Police, he said no security personnel is allowed to hinder observers from observing electoral process. He charged them to wear name tags to avoid embarrassment as policemen on duties without proper means identification will be arrested and prosecuted, while he warned public office holders not to come to polling centres with their Police orderly as such policemen will be arrested. Adamu also cautioned politicians and their supporters not to come near polling units with any means of party identification like branded tee shirts vehicles or sing party slogans. He said: “We promise to be professional, to be neutral and work with other election management stakeholders to ensure free, fair and credible elections”. The Chief host and chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, said the Commission will continue to fine-tune its election processes and procedures even after delivering a credible election this year. He promised adequate security for the 196 observers and advised them to adhere strictly to their Observation roles. “You are observers and not monitors”, he charged them. Prof. Yakubu urged them to acquaint themselves with election guideline information that contains Nigeria’s Constitution, Electoral Act, manual and regulations which was provided in digital form. He added that the electronic guideline also contain necessary data such as number of polling units, wards, local governments, names and contact of available hotels in each state of the Federation. Representatives of the International Federation for Election Support (IFES), European Centre for Election Support (ECES) and The Commonwealth Election Observation group gave goodwill messages while INEC National Commissioner, Prof. Antonia Okoosi- Simbine, Chairperson, Election & Party Monitoring Committee, gave an overview of the guidelines for observing the election.