The Kano Command of the Nigerian Police, a coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and political parties have expressed concern over possible political thuggery, calling on citizens to eschew violence and embrace peace at the forthcoming gubernatorial/State Assembly election in Kano state, North-western Nigeria.
The election scheduled by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is to be held on the eleventh of March, 2023.
Spokesperson of the command in a statement noted that the Kano State Police Command, under the leadership of Commissioner of Police Mamman Dauda psc(+), had received information that some disgruntled politicians were planning to import thugs to the state with the sole aim of disrupting the forthcoming Gubernatorial/ State Assembly Elections slated for Saturday, 11th March 2023.
“The Commissioner of Police is warning all thugs, mischief makers and miscreants to steer clear of the Spstate as the Command will not relent in its effort at dealing decisively with troublemakers.
“The Command will in liaison with other security agencies in the state ensure the arrest and diligent prosecution of all suspects. The thugs will also be charged to court alongside their sponsors.
“The Commissioner of Police wants the good people of the state to conduct themselves peacefully in the same way they did during the just concluded presidential/National Assembly election for the state to record zero-violence in the elections,” he stressed.
In the same vein, nine (9) political parties in Kano state have raised concern over suspected political violence in the Saturday’s election, calling on security agencies and other stakeholders to take proactive measures.
Governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, who spoke on behalf of the parties at a media briefing, said report reaching them indicated that some unpatriotic politicians had planned for thuggery to disrupt the electoral process coming up this weekend on Saturday, stressing that politics must not be taken as a do-or-die affair.
“In view of this development, we are calling on relevant stakeholders, especially security agencies, state/National Peace Committees, Human Rights Organizations, International and Domestic Observers and the Media to do the needful in addressing the unfortunate situation for peace and stability to prevail.
“We are also appealing to the INEC to mobilize election materials to polling units on time for the process to kickstart appropriately,”he appealed.
The speech was endorsed by the governorship candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), the Social Democratic Party (SDP), the People’s Redemption Party (PRP), the Young Progressives Party (YPP), the Action People’s Party (APP), the National Rescue Movement (NRM), the Boot Party and the Action Democratic Party (ADP).
In a related development, A chieftain of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in Kano state, Dr. Abdulahi Bappa Bichi, in a separate media chat also called for caution against alleged plans to disrupt the Saturday’s election, urging the relevant authorities to take necessary action:
“We pray that the president will make public pronouncements and instruct law enforcement agencies and all other stakeholders concerned to maintain their neutrality at all levels as well as caution them against doing the biddings of any politician.
“Any law enforcement agent, any INEC staff – ad hoc or not – that will do their work professionally without compromising or colluding to subvert the people’s mandate is surely a blessing to the good people of Kano state.”
Similarly, a coalition of 19 northern states’ Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) have also sued for peace in the coming election.
The convener of the group, Comrade Ibrahim Waiya, said citizens, especially the youths, must endeavour to ensure that the Saturday’s election is characterized by peace.
He said everyone needed to be concerned about the fear of violence being expressed in various quarters, as such there was the need to heed to the voice of wisdom and maintain peace during and after the election.
“We urge all Nigerians to turn out in large numbers to vote for their governors and law makers peacefully,” he added.
In a swift reaction, the Kano State Commissioner for Information and Internal Affairs, Comrade Mohammed Garba, said the alleged fear over thuggery in the forthcoming election by other political parties, especially the NNPP in the state, was just like playing the victim card.
He, however, assured that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would ensure that peace prevailed in the state, as he called on relevant security agencies to be alive to their responsibility by fishing out any individual or group bent on fomenting trouble to deny people exercising their franchise.
Edited by Amaka E. Nliam
