The acting Inspector General of Police, Mr Mohammed Adamu, has
said no police officer is allowed to accompany any politician
during the forthcoming elections.
Adamu, who spoke at the public presentation of a partnership
between some stakeholders in the elections, noted that ensuring
security during the conduct of the polls was the duty of every
participant.
The partnership, headed by the Transition Monitoring Group and
the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, included the Police
Service Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related
Offences Commission, among others.
Adamu said, “Everyone has a civic responsibility in ensuring
peaceful and credible elections. Election materials must be
secured. Electoral officials, domestic and foreign observers must
be protected.
“The Independent National Electoral Commission has rolled out
the ways stakeholders should conduct themselves. On our part, we
assure the nation that all electoral materials will be secured and
the electorate will be allowed to cast their votes without
monetisation.
“No police officer is allowed to move around with any VIP on
election day. Anyone, who does so in uniform or mufti will be
arrested.”
The acting IG added that all security agents would wear tags to
ensure there are no fake officers “because we have heard that a lot
of fake uniforms are being brought into the country.”
He also noted that security agents would monitor ad hoc staff
that could easily be manipulated, “especially National Youth
Service Corps members.”
Adamu added that observers were allowed to take pictures but
that they could not take pictures of people while voting “such that
you know what party they are voting for.”
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