2023: Kaduna security chiefs tasks political parties, candidates on peace, order

The Kaduna state Commissioner of Police, Yekini Ayoku, and other security chiefs have urged political parties, candidates and supporters to avoid violence and breakdown of law and order during political campaigns and elections.

Addressing a meeting of security chiefs with political parties and their candidates ahead of the 2023 general elections, CP Ayoku said “the Electoral Act 2022 especially in Sections 92 to 97, has prohibited and criminalised a number of conducts and acts.”

“The engagement of non-state security outfits for campaigns, rallies and other activities in the electoral process is not allowed while it is an offence to bear or use weapons such as Dane guns, swords, daggers, bows, arrows and other dangerous weapons at campaign venues.

“Parties and candidates are warned against the use of thugs and other miscreants in the electoral process. You are strongly advised to base your campaigns strictly on issues as politics is essentially a contest of ideas. Violence, incitement, hate speech, use of foul and indecorous language should be eschewed as I equally warn against removal/defacing of opponents’ posters and banners. Political parties and candidates are still obligated to submit to my office campaign schedules well ahead of time for proper planning with a view to avoiding clashes in time and venue,” he said.

He said further that, “As leaders, you have the responsibility to rein in your supporters and ensure they conduct themselves within the ambit of the law. The Police and other security agencies will continue to give the necessary robust support to INEC as it midwives the electoral process. My colleagues and I are resolute in discharging our mandate of securing the process and providing the right security environment for delivery of free, fair, hitch free polls.

“We assure you that we shall be professional, unbiased, fair and impartial in our dealings with all political parties. I need to warn however that nobody should doubt our will and capacity to strictly enforce the relevant laws guiding the process and deal ruthlessly with anyone who chooses to contravene the stipulation of the Electoral Act. I enjoin you to carry the message of peace to all the nooks and crannies of the state and help enlist the support of all and sundry to the security agencies as we work assiduously in making the state safe and secure for all of us.”

Attendance

In attendance were Brig.-Gen. C. Ogbuabo, Garrison Commander, 1 Division, Kaduna; Air Commodore A.A Adedoyin, 453 Base Service Group NAF Kaduna; CC Yakubu Salihu, Comptroller of Customs Kaduna Area Command; DCI Umaru Musa, Deputy Controller of Immigration, Kaduna state Command; DC Kalu Ndupe, Deputy Commander Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna state Command; CC Ado Sale, Controller of Correction Kaduna state Command; DCC Garba Lawal Ag., Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps, Kaduna Sector Command and DDIS Ibrahim Abdu Sarki Department of Security Service, Kaduna.

Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Isa Muhammad Ashiru, All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Uba Sani, New Nigeria’Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi, and that of the Labour Party (LP), Jonathan Asake, were among the governorship candidates that attended the meeting and they all committed to playing by the rules.