Ekiti Election: IG Threatens to Dismiss Partisan Police Officers

Victor Ogunje in Ado Ekiti

The Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, has threatened to dismiss any officer found hobnobbing with politicians or act in a way that could vitiate the July 14 election in Ekiti State.

Idris urged his men to be neutral and apolitical in line with the new creed of the Nigeria Police Force to serve Nigerians with dignity and

honesty.

He spoke in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday during a lecture organised for Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state and other officers and

men of the Force to sensitise them on the need to exhibit right attitudes for this coming election.

Idris, who was represented by the Commander in charge of Public

Complaint Rapid Response Unit (PCRRU), ACP Abayomi Shogunle, said ensuring smooth electioneering process and allowing the will of the electorate to prevail on the day of election were parts of the responsibilities of the police under him.

The IG urged members of the public to report any police found not to be professional as election gather momentum to the PCRRU that

will be headed by Shogunle during the election.

He said: “We were not happy with complaints that dogged the outcome of

the last election in Ekiti, particularly regarding the conducts of security personnel. Though, police were not fingered, but we need to

charge our men on the need to be apolitical.

“We have no business being partisan. Our duty is to provide security for electorate, election observers, ballot materials on the day of

election and nothing more.

“You could recollect that those officers that were accused to have misbehaved in 2014 in Ekiti State have been investigated and punished by the authorities.

“I want you to be professional in your duties and wherever you are posted to. The police work is like a service to the people. Don’t intimidate anybody to please politicians. You must think of your career in the Force and prevent enjoyment of one day from destroying it.

“I know your salaries are not big, but there is dignity in contentment. Don’t allow these moneybags to spoil your names and your

future.

“Election will come and go and later politicians shall realign and become friends while you will be in trouble, facing it all alone.

“We are saying that we are going to dismiss whoever is found guilty of misbehavior in this election. If we have strong evidence against you, we will also take legal action against you as well.”

Idris also directed the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ahmed Bello, to direct his men to destroy all illegal check-points mounted across the

state.

“Though, some checkpoints are made to create a defence, those are legal ones permitted to exist. But anyone that is mounted to extort

the populace must cease to exist,” IG stated.