The Nigerian Police has charged all political parties to base their campaigns on issues that would be beneficial to the country and avoid campaigns that would trigger violence.
The Sokoto State Commissioner of Police, CP Muhammad Gumel made the charge at a one day colloquium on security, organised for political parties and critical stakeholders ahead of electioneering campaigns in Sokoto State.
Gumel said the national colloquium was organised to discuss initiatives and ways of reducing election-related violence across the country.
” In effect, as this Colloquium assembles key national stakeholders, it is important to analyze the root causes of electoral violence and to examine best practices towards preventing its occurrences and ensuring peaceful conduct of electioneering campaigns and the general elections in the State.
“The meeting is to talk to each other and agree on how to manage the expected political competitions and some emerging conflicts along those lines in a peaceful way.
” It is also to discuss on how to provide all the required security support for the political players to play the game according to rules and decorum, especially as campaign activities are around the corner,” CP Gumel said.
Strengthen Democratic Institutions
He explained that the meeting also became necessary to strengthen democratic institutions and structures that are considered critical to the enhancement of the integrity of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
Gumel said Nigeria Police Force in the performance of these roles would maintain an oath of neutrality in accordance with the Electoral Act.
He also charged political parties to educate their supporters to promote peace, dialogue and consensus to ensure peaceful 2023 excercise.
The Police Commissioner noted that police would always keep the alertness during electoral security deployments, exhibit a high degree of professionalism and fairness in dealings with all parties.
The State Commandant, Nigeria Drugs and Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Mr Adamu Iro, caution political parties not to use drugs on youths during their electioneering campaigns to promote violence.
He added that any party found with that act would face full wrath of the law.
Also the Chairman Inter Party Advisory Council, Mr Abba Sidi, pledges political parties commitment to conduct violence free campaigns across the State.
Sidi noted that in Sokoto all other party leaders agree to play the game according to the rules.
In the same vein, the People Democratic Party, PDP Chairman Sokoto State Chapter, Bello Goronyo, who was represented by the party Publicity Secretary, Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal, commended the organisers of the colloquium.
He expressed their party readiness to conduct issue base campaigns without hate speech or condemnation of any political candidates.
By the provision of Section 94(1) of the Electoral Act 2022 provided that electioneering campaigns by all political parties would officially commence on 28th September for the Presidential and National Assembly.
Governorship and State House of Assembly will commence October 12.
Confidence Okwuchi
