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- Pix(above): Mike Okiro
Former Inspector General of Police (IGP), Sir Mike Okiro, has charged the incumbent Insapector General of Police, IG)P U&sman Alkali Baba, to hold police officers and men responsible for violence at the polling units, as policemen deployed to secure the polling units are seemingly in the forefront of the thuggery and disruption of the process in their various units.
Okiro, who was also the former chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), condemned intimidation of voters and other violence during the Presidential and National Assembly polls.
Speaking with journalists in Lagos, Okiro said it has become imperative for him to voice out his concerns against the backdrop of raging misconceptions by Nigerians and international observers who monitored the exercise.
Advising the incumbent Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba and other service chiefs not to allow miscreants make a mockery of the nation’s electoral process, Okiro noted that, while the presidential election was peaceful in some areas, its conduct was marred by violence, intimidation and prevention of voters from voting their choice.
He said: “Some observers, for example, said they witnessed 135 incidents involving, but not limited to seizure or snatching of ballot boxes by armed gangs and political thugs, vote-buying, delays and irregularities.
“These resulted in delay in uploading results from each of the 176,000 polling units to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s portal.
“What strikes me the most, and which are objectionable and condemnable is violence and voter-intimidation, especially use of gunmen and thugs to harass, scare away voters and officials, as well as snatching of ballot boxes.
“Sadly, some policemen were accused of watching while the violence was orchestrated. In some domains, some were accused of threatening voters to vote certain candidates or face damning consequences, like being driven away from where they live.
“In other areas, properties are destroyed, ostensibly to cow them to vote for candidates not their choice. Should such conduct still be trailing Nigeria in the 21st century? The answer is NO! In that wise, the police should be up and doing to ensure peaceful electoral processes, not violence and intimidation as witnessed in some places.”
The former IGP reminded those behind such behaviour it is unconstitutional to coerce anyone to vote against their will, referring to Chapter 4 and Section 77 of the Constitution, and Article 21 of the Human Rights Charter, to buttress his point.
“The Constitution guarantees freedom of movement as well as freedom of Nigerians to reside in any part of the country without molestation. It stipulates freedom to vote and be voted for in any part of the country.
“Any Nigerian has the right to contest election in any part of the country once such a citizen is qualified to stand for election. Citizens should not be forced or cowed to vote for or pander to dictates of any candidate other than the candidate of their choice.
“Therefore, as the governorship and House of Assembly elections hold on Saturday, March 18, I implore the social media to be vigilant and aggressive in capturing video clips of violence involving armed gangs and thugs hired to disrupt the polls.
“Persons, no matter how highly or lowly placed, threatening or forcing Nigerians to vote for candidates not their choice are not exempted, including policemen who watch irregularities and violence being perpetrated.
“Such social media report should be explicit with the state, local government, ward, polling unit or specific domain where such incidents are witnessed. The report should also be signed or bear the name of the reporter so it will not be dismissed as fake news by investigators.
“By the same token, I, once again, implore the IGP to deal with policemen who watch while violence is being committed by hired gunmen, thugs and sundry election miscreants and offenders,” Okiro further stressed. /SHARE THIS
- Tags: Mike Okiro, Usman Alkali Baba, 2023 general elections
