By Sam Jones, Yenagoa
Abuja (Sundiata Post) – The Nigeria Police have warned its men and those of sister security agencies not to do anything that would comprise this Saturday’s governirship election in Bayelsa State.
Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of the Department of Information and Communications Technology, DIG Daniel Sokari-Pedro, stated this on Thursday at a meeting with stakeholders in Yenagoa.
Sokari-Pedro told the gathering which included senior police officers that any security agent that is found wanting would be arrested and prosecuted.
At Wednesday’s signing of a peace accord by candidates, incumbent Governor, Senator Douye Diri of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his major rival, Chief Timipre Sylva of the All Progressives Congress (APC) traded allegations of stockpiling arms.
Sokari-Pedro said the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, is totally committed to free, fair, safe and unhindered democratic atmosphere during the off-cycle election.
Though noting that Bayelsa State is a peaceful state, he however pointed out that all the three senatorial zones are volatile during elections just as some local government areas have been identified as flashpoints.
He assured the people of the state that during the election, not only culprits of violence will be dealt with, but the identified sponsors will be dealt with and prosecuted appropriately.
He said: “The IGP is totally committed to the free, fair, safe and unhindered democratic atmosphere of the off-cycle election taking place on Saturday here in Bayelsa State. It’s a known fact that Bayelsa State is a peaceful state.
“Nevertheless, in election it is a volatile state; the three senatorial zones that make up the state are politically volatile. Some local governments are flashpoints, they include Sagbama, Nembe, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Southern Ijaw and Brass.
“These are just some of the local governments that are most volatile. Unfortunately, the youths have been identified as vanguards of election violence, and the so-called godfathers and principals are the purveyors and patrons of this.
“The trend of election brigandage has become new for two major reasons: one, when suspects are arrested, they are treated with kid gloves, and secondly, the sponsors are not always arrested, and when they arrested, they are not always prosecuted. This encourages the culture of impunity.
“But, we are assuring the peace loving Bayelsans that in this election, not only culprits will be dealt with, the identified sponsors will be dealt with, the proxies will be prosecuted and the principals, in order to ensure a peaceful election in Bayelsa State.
“As we leave here, officers in all the local governments have been directed to carry out a show of force, all the perpetrators of violence be put out of circulation and their sponsors, any civilian that is armed at any polling centre shall be arrested and failure to do that by the police, the police themselves or the brother agent who are responsible for such a lapse will be arrested.
“Any orderly or guard that escorts his principal to the polling centre shall be arrested and thereafter tried in orderly room, in this case, if care is not taken, may lead to his dismissal.
“I want to assure you that at every point from voting, counting, collation police officers responsible there shall provide protection for peaceful voters, INEC officials, property and materials; sanctions shall be meted to officers for any breach.
“Parents and guardians have been warned to tell their children to stay away from any trouble, before, during and after the election: the youths should have courage to advise those who sponsor them for violence to tell their children.”
