Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja
Ahead of the 2027 general election, the Nigeria Police Force Kogi State Command has warned against electoral violence, stressing that this still remained grievous offence and every one should say no to electoral violence, thuggery, voter intimidation, destruction of election materials and ballot snatching.
Just as the command warned parents to sensitise their wards not to allow themselves to be used during election, that anyone caught in the act will be made to face full wrath of the law.
The State Commissioner of Police, Bello Kankafori, admonished those who intend to foment trouble and prospective trouble shooters to stay clear of the electoral process in the state.
Kankafori gave this charge while speaking during the National Police Day organised by the Kogi State Police Command in collaboration with the Zone 8 Headquarters to present community outreach at the command headquarters in Lokoja.
The Officer in Charge of Legal Department, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Samuel Ikutanwa who was one of the guest speakers, in his paper disclosed that electoral violence has continued to be the major factor undermining the quest for democratic consolidation in the political system.
Ikutanwa pointed out that this is particularly true in developing countries, including Nigeria where electoral conflict has become an essential character of the political process in the postcolonial period.
“Election and crisis have become two mutually reinforcing phenomena in Nigeria‘s post independence history. Successive elections have come to depict chaos, violence, and confusion.
“Election and its attendant consequences constituted
quite significant fraction of the several remote and real factors that had threatened the corporate existence of Nigeria.
“Importantly, there exist several laws in Nigeria to regulate human conduct including election. Notably, the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, the Electoral Act 2010, as amended and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Rules and Regulations constitute the peal framework which regulates our electoral process.
“Provisions of these laws deals with associate ,vote, form political Parties etc. Others include registration of voters, election day procedures dispute resolution,” Ikutanwa stated.
Mercy Olowokere who represented the State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), explained that curbing road crashes is collective responsibility of all, nothing most of these crashes are due to human errors.
Olowokere therefore called on Nigerians particularly road users to always obey the rules and regulations to ensure safety on the highways
She pointed out that a good driver must be very conscious and be considerate of the actions of those driving behind and towards him/her, believing they may cause any avoidable trouble unexpectedly .
