JUST IN: Kwara By-Election: Saraki Queries IGP Idris For Transferring Four DPOs

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has faulted the transfer of
four Divisional Police Officers ahead of Saturday by-election in
Irepodun /Ekiti /Oke Ero /Isin federal constituency, Kwara
State.

He said this while speaking with journalists in Ilorin on
Wednesday during Islamic prayers for his late father’s sixth
remembrance anniversary.

Saraki also condemned huge deployment of policemen and sudden
change of divisional heads of police in four local government areas
for the by-election.

He said: “You see, the mistake we sometimes make, we forget that
Nigeria is a big nation in this global world, not only in the
context of Africa. We provide leadership.

An action that we take that tries to suggest that we are not
civilised with rule of law and processes, doesn’t augur well with
the image. Today, the President is the President of ECOWAS likewise
the Chairman of INEC as chairman of electoral bodies in Ecowas,
even show that we are a responsible country.

“So, when the IG begins to do things like this without following
due process, it is not good for our country, and that is what we
always stand for. All those who supposed to caution him will ensure
that due process is followed in a thing like this.

“We have been doing by-election here, I have never seen where
DPOs are being transferred. We have been doing by-elections here, I
have never seen where 200 or 300 (security personnel) are being
deployed. It is not about Kwara, it is about the country.

It is about how the world sees us. It is about how we provide
leadership in the continent. And we keep on saying that people like
these are not doing the President any good. The people at the end
of the day will speak, and they should allow people to exercise
their rights, vote in peace and vote their wishes and should not do
anything that creates fear or break law and order.

In spite of all these, I see PDP winning the election because we
are on ground. There is no doubt about it. If you go round, you
will know who is on ground, and you will see that in the results.
They should allow people to exercise their rights.”