By Edna Ezinneamaka Onunaku
As a build up to the forthcoming general elections in the country, the Commissioners of Police (CSPs) in charge of State Police Commands have been alerted of the urgency to activate the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
The order which was given by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, in a statement yesterday, was to engage all stakeholders in evolving strategies for mitigating threats to the Elections process within their various areas of responsibility, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the Public Relations Officer of the Police Force, has noted. He said,
“The IGP notes that political violence, hate speech, threats, political intolerance, misinformation, and political extremism are all potential threats to our democracy and national security interests.”
He, therefore, urged all CSPs to work in synergy with other members of the ICCES to reduce occurrence and threats of violence to its barest minimum with swift prosecution of violators of extant electoral laws.
In furtherance to this, Adejobi said the IGP has charged all CSPs to also ensure adequate and strategic deployment of officers and assets, as well as coordinate, deploy, and supervise officers, while calling on other security agencies and stakeholders who constitute ICCES as well as members of the public to deliberately aid the Nigeria Police Force in its drive to ensure the safety and security of all and sundry before, during, and after the 2023 General Elections.
