Kwara state commissioner of Police, Paul Odana Sunday cautioned supporters of political parties in the state against defacement and destruction of opposition parties’ posters and billboards.
This is just as he warned that henceforth, divisional police officers (DPOs) would be held for dereliction of directives to halt the trend where such repeat itself in their area of jurisdiction.
CP Odana said despite his earlier warnings handed down to them during a meeting with various political parties, his office is being inundated with reports of violation of the gentleman accord.
The police boss warned that the action apart from being a criminal offence, is also a violation of the electoral law punishable under the law.
CP Odama directed divisional police officers (DPOs) to intensify patrol to avert repeat of such acts saying, they (DPOs) would be held for dereliction of the directives if such acts is perpetrated in their area of jurisdiction.
The CP handed down the new warning in a statement issued on his behalf by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Okasanmi Ajayi on Sunday.
The statement reads: “The commissioner of police, Kwara state, CP Paul Odama psc, has frowned at the reports filtering into his hearing about the bare-faced disobedience to his admonition to political gladiators to warm their supporters against destruction and defacement of opposing political party posters during his parley with political parties executives few weeks ago.
“Destruction of banners and billboards, apart from being against Electoral law, is also a crime against the freedom of expression as enshrined in the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, it is also morally unjustifiable.
“Consequently, any person or group of persons found in the act of destroying or defacing any political party posters or billboard would be arrested and prosecuted.
“The CP, therefore, advised parents and guardians to warn their children and wards against becoming tools in the hands of some mischievous politicians who are hellbent on jeopardizing the level playing ground the command has promised and working hard to emplace in Kwara state, so as to ultimately achieve the goal of a peaceful, free and credible elections come 2023.
“The commissioner of police Kwara state in furtherance of his determination to end the negative acts of billboard destruction, has directed all the Divisional Police officers in the state to intensify patrols within their areas of responsibilities (AORs) to ensure that no billboard or poster of any political party is defaced or destroyed. The DPOs are warned to be prepared to face the consequences of dereliction of the directives”.
