The Inspector General of Police, (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun, has warned political parties and their supporters to adhere strictly to the electoral law, noting that whoever does otherwise would be arrested and prosecuted according to the constitution of the country.
Speaking on Tuesday at a stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lokoja, ahead of Saturday governorship election in Kogi state, the IGP also warned trouble makers across the 21 local government areas of the state to either a rethink or relocate from the state.
He said the Police Force and other security agencies would not tolerate any violence before, during and after the governorship election in Kogi state, assuring that the security agents deployed to the state would carry out their duties within the ambit of the law.
Egbetokun, who was represented by the Kogi State Police Commissioner, CP Bertrend Onuoha, lamented the way the police and other security agencies were being blackmailed in the course of doing their constitutional duty of ensuring free and fair electioneering processes.
He however said that no amount of blackmail would stop them from performing constitutional duties of ensuring that the election is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.
Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu while speaking said the commission is fully ready for the election.
Represented by National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Kwara and Niger states, Professor Sani Mohammed Adam, SAN, the INEC chairman noted that sensitive and non sensitive materials were already on ground.
He noted that they would make sure that the coming election in the state is conducted without any hitches.
Earlier, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Dr Gabriel Longpet, had outlined the preparedness of the commission towards the November 11 governorship election.
He said every machinery has been set in motion, such as the training of Ad-hoc staff, while the non sensitive materials have started arriving since Monday and being kept safe until distribution to Registration areas, RAC centers across the state.
