Election Offenders: Nigerian Police To Collaborate With INEC For Quick Justice – IGP

By Ayodele Oni

The Inspector-General of Police, (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba has assured  effective collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to prosecute 781 electoral offenders apprehended during last elections.

According to the IG, the suspects are from a total of 489 major electoral infractions across the nation.

Alkali presided over the meeting of the upper echelon of the Nigeria Police Force comprising Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders in Abuja on Monday.

Force PRO, Mr Olumuyiwa Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police,  who disclosed this in a statement, noted that the meeting was convened to assess the performance of the police during the 2023 General election, highlight lessons and strengths, and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance.

The IGP seized the opportunity to commend the Senior Police Officers and Commanders and other ranks for their resilience, sacrifices, and professionalism, which ensured the containment of the pockets of election security breaches across the country.

He tasked commands to submitt case files centrally at the Electoral Offences Desk, Office of the IGP, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to ensure a ‘coordinated process’ and forward such to INEC’s Legal department.

The IGP  urged Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties.

He admonished political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten national security.