Nigeria Police Force has organized a peace signing accord with the gubernatorial and senatorial candidates of twelve registered political parties in Jigawa state.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Emmanuel Ekot Effiom explained that, the signing of the peace accord was directed by the Inspector General of Police Usman Alkali Baba.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring a hitch-free campaign, rallies and a secure environment for free, fair, credible, and violence-free elections across the twenty seven local government areas of the state.
Emmanuel Ekot Effiom urged the political parties to support and work closely with the police and other security agencies in the state.
He called on each political party to draw up itineraries for campaigns and submit same to police for necessary security actions and reduce the incidences of having two political parties in the same location at the same time.
The CP therefore, charged all politicians especially contestants, media aides, and vote canvassers in the upcoming 2023 general elections to shun inciting statements, vandalization of opposition parties’ banners, posters, and bill boards, thuggery, personal attacks, spreading of fake news and be committed to issue based campaigns.
Effiom called on them to avoid hate speeches during political rallies, while being guided by extant laws and rules governing their activities.
He pointed out that, the use of weapons such as cutlasses, sticks, bow and arrows, guns, machetes, jack knives and other dangerous weapons during electioneering campaigns and elections is still enforced by the command.
He added that, any person found wanting in this regard will be sanctioned accordingly, and advised party executives to organize training sessions for their members and educate them on electoral acts and rule engagement as specified in the 2022 electoral acts as amended and other extant laws.
Radio Nigeria reports that, the occasion was attended by security chiefs, the state INEC resident electoral commissioner, representatives of groups, traditional and religious leaders among others.
Usman Mohammed Zaria