From Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
The Kano Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), risng from a crucial meeting at the office of the state Commissioner of Police, Mamman Dauda, on Tuesday, assured of credible and violent-free electioneering campaigns and elections in 2023.
In view of a series of attacks on the facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), particularly, in the southern part of the country, ICCES, consisting of the heads of all security and para-military agencies in the state, including the Kano INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, resolved to mount security at all INEC offices and facilities across the state.
Speaking shortly after the meeting, ICCES Chairman, who is also the state Commissioner of Police, Mamman Dauda, said, “owing to attacks on INEC headquarters, offices and facilities in the southern part of the country, we have resolved to take proactive measures.
“At the state INEC headquarters, we will block the two major roads. Through WE are not praying for any attack by miscreants, we are doing everything possible to see that we provide adequate security for INEC.”
According to him, within the last three weeks, Police in the state recorded a case of snatching and stocking of PVCs of which the culprit was arrested and prosecuted.
He also hinted that currently, five women from ä particular political party are in police net for using PVCs of hapless Nigerians as ä criteria for empowerment.
“These five women from ä particular political party were arrested while collecting and registering peoples’ PVC as ä qualification for empowerment. We view such act as vote buying, and it is a crime. They will soon be charged to court for prosecution.”
According to him, “issues discussed at the meeting consist of the review of the democratic process and electioneering campaigns that started few weeks ago.
“We also discussed the few cases of violence recorded during electioneering campaigns which include destruction of bill boards, poster and inflicting injuries. We mapped out strategies on how to forestall them as the political parties carry on with their campaigns.
“We also looked at the readiness of the police and other security agencies to ensure credible and violent free elections. And we das the need for all security agencies to synernize.
“ICCES, during the meeting, also mapped out strategies to provide adequate security for the INEC offices across the 44 Local Government Areas in the state.”
The ICCES Chairman also called on political parties to play by the rules and avoid thuggery and other activities that breed violence during campaigns and elections.
According to him, “when I came in as Commissioner of Police in the state, I had meetings with the leaders of all the political parties in the state. I discussed with them at lenght and they all saw reasons while they should avoid thuggery and eschew violence.
“We gave them terms and reasons why they should do the politics without violence, and they all accepted. They agreed that for them to have free and fair elections, thuggery should stop.
“And I must toll you that we have so far witnessed reduction in thuggery. Our men follow them whereever they for campaigns and we make sure that their activities remain peaceful.
“You can see that from ä one million man match by ä political party recently. The crowd that came out for the event was Too much, but the event was very orderly and peaceful. This is so because öf the efforts we are making.
“We are talking to them, and we are also threatening them with arrest and prosecution if they go against the law.
“We are coming out with ä comprehensive operation Order consisting of all security agencies. And each of all the security agencies have ä particular job to do.”
The Police boss, however, advised politicians and the electorate to stop buying PVCs, “because it will be useless. Nobody can use any PVC that does not belong to him. And anybody who does not have PVC has nö business coming close to the polling units, because If you are caught, you will be arrested.”
He said the police and other security agencies in the state have mapped out strategies to cover 11,222 Polling Units and 484 Collation Centers in Kano during the elections.
