State governors will no longer be allowed to prevent opposition political parties from holding rallies in their states, the Nigerian Police Force, NPF has said.
As part of this, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Baba said state police commissioners has been directed to ensure that political parties are treated equally, adding that he will redeploy any commissioner that disobey his orders.
The IGP disclosed this on Wednesday at the 2022 political parties summit in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
Baba comment is a response to ban by opposition parties to hold campaign rallies. Some governors have even banned their opponents from erecting billboards and posters.
In some cases, opponent’s billboards and campaign posters have been destroyed, while they are not also allowed to use public stadia and schools.
This development cannot be allowed to continue, the IGP said noting that political parties should be allowed to organize their rallies freely without any hinderance.
Baba who was represented by Dandaura Mustapha, deputy inspector-general of police, DIG operations, said the IGP has directed state commissioner of police to ensure that all parties are given an opportunity to campaign.
Baba said while some governors should be commended for allowing opposition parties to hold their activities freely, there are complaints about others.
According to him, “Unfortunately, some of the governors are not helping matters. They have not laid the foundation to give other political parties access to their campaign avenues.
“Some try to manipulate the campaigns. Some even sponsor thugs to pursue the opposition, remove their billboards, remove their posters and destroy their offices. We are aware and we have full reports.
“Based on this, the IG has categorically directed all commissioners of police that on no account should any serving or sitting governor stop other political parties from conducting their campaigns in their nooks and crannies of their states.
“This instruction was very clear both in writing and verbally.
“The commissioners of police have been directed to arrest all the hoodlums no matter where they belong to, whoever is sponsoring them, we will arrest them, charge them to court, that is a clear instruction.”
Meanwhile, AHigh Court Sitting in Minna, the Niger State Capital, has issued a warrant of arrest on the Chief of Army Staff, COAS, General Faruk Yahaya for contempt.
Also to be arrested include Commandant Training and Doctrine Command, Minna, Major General Olugbenga Olabanji for a similar offense.
The presiding judge, Justice Halima Abdulmalik said the order followed upon hearing on motion on notice brought before the court in pursuant of order forty two rule ten of the Niger State High Court Civil procedure 2018.
Justice Abdulmalik ruled that the order is commuting Yahaya and Olabanji to be kept in Minna correctional custody for contentions of order of this court on 12 October, 2022.
