By Hassan Zaggi
The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, has directed that all electoral offences case files be submitted to the Commissioner of Police in charge of legal unit.
This, according to him, is to enable for central collation and coordinated processing to the legal unit of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) preparatory to the commencement of prosecution process.
Speaking at a meeting with Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders, in Abuja, the IGP applauded police personnel across the country for their exceptional performance during the 2023 general elections.
He, however, assured that: “We will effectively collaborate with INEC leadership in ensuring that all these electoral offenders are expeditiously and transparently prosecuted not only in the interest of criminal justice but in furtherance to our vision in sanitizing our electoral space.”
The IGP disclosed that, “feedback so far received across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT indicates that a total of 489 major electoral infractions leading to the arrest of 781 offenders recorded nationally both during the presidential and national Assembly election and the gubernatorial and state assembly election while not less than 61 firearms of various descriptions were recovered from electoral adversaries.
“A summary indicates that 185 major electoral offenses were recorded during the presidential and national assembly election with 203 arrest made and 18 firearms recovered .
“Similarly, 304 electoral offences were recorded during the gubernatorial and state assembly election with 578 arrests and recovery of 48 firearms. “
IGP Baba, therefore, charged the Strategic Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties.
He similarly charged all political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten our national security.
