From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The Commissioner of Police Kogi state command, Akeem Yusuf has warned politicians against vote buying, thuggery and other electoral malpractices before, during and after the elections .
CP Yusuf also assured the public of the command’s neutrality and vowed to provide a level playing ground for all political parties in the state.
The commissioner made the remarks during the meeting of the Police, and other security agencies, with Stakeholders of political parties held on Tuesday at the Police command headquarters, Lokoja.
CP Yusuf advised politicians to play the game by the rules, and solicited their cooperation so as to have a peaceful, credible and transparent election, warning that any form of violence or thuggery would be handled with maximum force .
He admonished the political parties and their candidates to educate their supporters on the dangers inherent in vote buying and acts of thuggery as the Command will be fully prepared for any form of breaches.
The Director of the Department of States Service (DSS), who assured the politicians of the professionalism of the Security agencies, said any attempt by person or groups no matter how highly placed to undermine their mandate will be fully resisted and dealt with decisively in accordance with the law.
The DSS boss, who recalled the mass voters apathy during the previous elections, blamed it on act of thuggery, which he said disenfranchised many prospective voters.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Kogi state, Dr. Hale Gabriel Longpet, in his goodwill message, commended the Police, and other security agencies for their usual cooperation and commitments during national assignments like election.
Dr Longpet appealed to political parties, Traditional Rulers, Stakeholders, Youth and Women to assist INEC in sensitizing the public on the conduct of the election as well as educating them on the danger’s of thuggery, vote buying and selling.
While assuring the people of INEC’s preparedness towards election, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, urged the electorate to feel free and cast their votes.
He disclosed that INEC has introduced new devices that will ensure, free,fair,credible and transparent election in 2023, and advised them to be civil through out the period of the election.
The meeting had in attendance, the AIG in charge of zone 8 Ashafa Adekunle and all heads of the para military agencies in Kogi state.
