2023: Police Warn Tinubu, Obi’s Supporters Against Violence

The Nigerian Police Force, NPF has warned the supporters of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and Peter Obi of the Labour Party, LP to eschew violence ahead of the 2023 presidential election.

The Force issued the warning against the backdrop of violent comments and verbal exchanges among the supporters of the frontline presidential hopefuls, particularly on social media.

Obi had recently cautioned his supporters to avoid violence while campaigning for him after Tinubu alleged that the LP candidate’s supporters are attacking him.

“We have come to a point where it becomes imperative to tell Obi to show leadership and disavow his supporters who are employing fake news and disinformation as deliberate tools to deceive and poison the minds of unsuspecting Nigerians,” Bayo Onanuga, spokesman of the Tinubu Campaign Organisation, TCO said in a tweet. .

The police have therefore warned the candidates and their supporters that any threat to life is a criminal offense, and violates the Electoral Act.

Speaking to The Punch, Olumuyiwa Adejobi the Force’s spokesman said the police will prosecute those who engage in violent campaigns.

Adejobi said anyone who felt threatened should report to the police for appropriate action.

According to him, “Threats to life is a criminal offense, and everyone has the right to take up cases against anyone who threatens their life or engages in an act capable of making their life precarious or causing a problem in the country.

“Hence, whosoever feels threatened is at liberty to approach the police formally, for necessary action.

“The Electoral Act is clear on electoral offences and appropriate punishments. Also, our criminal laws can be applied in handling election-related crises. We have our laws and we are duty-bound to enforce them at all times.

“While we urge all political actors to be law-abiding and desist from violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, we will always engage relevant stakeholders, especially politicians, in deliberations, from time to time, on how to have a seamless exercise in 2023.”