By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse – Ahead of the July 1 council elections in Jigawa, Commissioner of Police (CP) in the state, Rasheed Akintunde, on Wednesday, met with leaders of political parties and chairmanship candidates and warned that police would not hesitate to disrupt any political rally that could breach public peace.
Akintunde told politicians at the Police Headquarters in Dutse that political parties were free to conduct their rallies and campaigns but advised them to obtain police permit before embarking on such campaigns or rallies.
The commissioner said that the gesture was to enable the police to provide adequate security during such gatherings and to guard against disruption of public peace and safety.
According to him, the nation’s constitution gives citizens the right to freedom of association, warning that any politician or candidate who engages in acts of thuggery during political campaigns or election will be made to face the full wrath of the law.
He added that “any conduct, action or inaction prohibited by the constitution or the electoral act will attract punishment.
“Our attention is now on campaign, so all these electoral act violators still have provision in our penal code law. There is no way an offender can escape being tried.”
The commissioner listed offences during campaign as; unlawful possession of weapon at political rally or voting centre, violent threat to any person or political party, as well as campaigning in public earlier than 90 days before polling day or ending campaign less than 24 hours to election.
Another offence, he added, was political party advertising in newspaper, radio or television less than 24 hours to election.
According to him, other offences are employing state apparatus, including the media to the advantage or disadvantage of any political party or candidate at any election, and unequal allocation of airtime among political parties or candidates.
Broadcasting or publishing any material for the purpose of promoting or opposing a particular political party or a candidate 24 hours after polling day was also an offence, he noted.
The Chairman of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Alhaji Sardauna Yero and the Vice Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC) in charge of Dutse, Alhaji Habibu Sara, commended the police for organising the meeting.
The two party leaders assured that their members would be briefed accordingly
to avoid unnecessary tension in the state.
The political parties unanimously agreed and signed peace accord toward peaceful conduct of political rallies, campaign and subsequent elections in the state.