Heads of the security agencies in Kaduna State have warned political parties, their candidates and supporters to avoid breaking the law during the electioneering.
The security chiefs, led by the Commissioner of Police Yekini Ayoku, cautioned parties against violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, especially Sections 92 to 97. He stressed that the engagement of non-state security outfits for campaigns and rallies would not be tolerated.
The meeting, which was at his instance, had in attendance the Garrison Commander, 1 Division, Kaduna, Brigadier General Ogbuabo; Commander, 453 Base Service Group Nigerian Airforce, Kaduna, Air Commodore A.A Adedoyin, Controller of Customs, Kaduna Area Command, CC Yakubu Salihu; and Deputy Controller of Immigration, Kaduna State Command, DCI Umaru Musa.
Also present were the Deputy Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna State Command, DC Kalu Ndupe; Controller of Corrections, Kaduna State Command, CC Ado Sale; Acting Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps, Kaduna Sector Command, DCC Garba Lawal; and Ibrahim Abdu Sarki of the Department of State Services, Kaduna.
Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Isa Muhammad Ashiru; All Progressives Congress, Senator Uba Sani; New Nigeria Peoples Party, Senator Suleiman Hunkuyi; and that of the Labour Party, Jonathan Asake, amongst others, attended the meeting.
The police commissioner said, “The engagement of non-state security outfits for campaigns, rallies and other activities in the electoral process is not allowed while it is an offence to bear or use weapons such as Dane guns, swords, daggers, bows, arrows and other dangerous weapons at campaign venues.
“For the umpteenth time, parties and candidates are warned against the use of thugs and other miscreants in the electoral process. This is just as you are strongly advised to base your campaigns strictly on issues bearing in mind that politics is essentially a contest of ideas.
“Violence, incitement, hate speech, use of foul and indecorous language should be eschewed as I equally warn against removal/defacing of opponents’ posters and banners.”
He asked parties and candidates to submit to his office their campaign schedules ahead of time. This he said was for proper planning with a view to avoiding clashes over venues.
He promised that all security agencies would be fair to all and give all the necessary support to the Independent National Electoral Commission.
