Ahead of the 2023 general elections in Kaduna State, security chiefs led by the Commissioner of Police, Yekini A. Ayoku on Friday, read out riot act to political parties, their candidates and supporters.
Addressing political parties and their supporters at a meeting, CP Ayoku said “the Electoral Act 2022, especially in Sections 92 – 97 has prohibited and criminalized a number of conducts and acts.”
According to him, the laws forbid engagement of non-state security outfits for campaigns, rallies and other activities in the electoral process, adding that it is an offence to bear or use weapons such as Dane guns, swords, daggers, bows, arrows and other dangerous weapons at campaign venues.
He warned political parties and their candidates against the use of thugs and other miscreants in the electoral process, while advising them to base their campaigns strictly on issues, bearing in mind that politics is essentially a contest of ideas.
He also warned against violence, incitement, hate speech, use of foul and indecorous language, just as he equally warned against removal/defacing of opponents’ posters and banners.
“Political parties and candidates are still obligated to submit to my office campaign schedules ahead of time for proper planning with a view to avoiding clashes in time and venue,” he said.
He advised them to always abide by the rules in order to avoid any breakdown of law and order during the political campaigns, during elections as well as after the elections.
The meeting, which was at the instance of the Police Commissioner, had in attendance Brigadier. Gen. C. Ogbuabo, Garrison Commander, 1 Division, Kaduna Air Commodore A.A Adedoyin 453 Base Service Group Nigerian Airforce Kaduna, CC Yakubu Salihu
Controller of Customs Kaduna Area Command, Nigeria Customs Kaduna.
Others were DCI Umaru Musa Deputy Controller of Immigration, Kaduna State Command, DC Kalu Ndukwe, Deputy Commandant Nigeria Security & Civil Defence Corps, Kaduna State Command, CC Ado Sale, Controller of Correction Kaduna State Command, DCC Garba Lawal Ag. Sector Commander Federal Road Safety Corps, Kaduna Sector Command and DDIS Ibrahim Abdu Sarki Department of Security Service, Kaduna.
Candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Isa Muhammad Ashiru, All Progressive Congress (APC) Senator Uba Sani, New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) Senator Suleiman Othman Hunkuyi and that of the Labour Party (LP) Hon. Jonathan Asake were all present at the meeting.
The parties agreed to abide by the rules and regulations governing the electoral act.
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