FCT Election: Police Reads Riot Act to Electoral Law Violators

*Vow to arrest and prosecute both thugs and their sponsors

By Yemi Akinsuyi in Abuja

The Commissioner of Police on election duty for Federal Capital Territory, Foluso Adebanjo, has sent a note of warning to anyone planning to violate the electoral law of the Territory in this Saturday’s election, stating that the Police would enforce the full weight of law on them.

Adebanjo, while briefing the media on the Police preparation for the council election across the territory, also warned that anyone caught in the act of thuggery as well as their sponsors would be prosecuted.

In his words: “May I state at this point that the Police is fully prepared and committed to the successful and peaceful conduct of this Election. I want to also assure members of the public that the Police will remain neutral and provide all with a conducive atmosphere to exercise their voting rights.

“However, the Police will not hesitate to apply the appropriate sections of the law in dealing with any individual or group of persons arrested trying to foment trouble or sabotage the electioneering process.”

The CP, who stepped into the shoes of the substantial FCT Police boss, Wilson Inalegwu for the Area Council election said the command deployed Police personnel to respective polling units and voting points by name for the purpose of accountability.

He said: “It is pertinent to state at this juncture that Police personnel for this election duty have been properly briefed on their roles as stipulated in the electoral act. They will be professional, non-partisan, civil but firm in their approach and relation to the public.”

Adebanjo said aside the aforementioned, the Police has been working closely with the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to provide water tight escort for the safe movement of both sensitive and non-sensitive electoral materials to the respective destinations.

Continuing, he said: “Adequate security arrangements have been made for the protection of INEC staff and all ad-hoc staff being used for the conduct of the election. Also, security at all INEC offices across FCT have been beefed up.”