Elections: Police DIG tasks personnel on professionalism, neutrality

Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, Mr Godwin Nwobodo, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Zone C, has tasked officers and men to be professional and maintain neutrality in the discharge of their duties on election day. Nwobodo gave the advice while addressing officers and men of the Plateau […]

Ahead of Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections, Mr Godwin Nwobodo, the Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Zone C, has tasked officers and men to be professional and maintain neutrality in the discharge of their duties on election day.

Nwobodo gave the advice while addressing officers and men of the Plateau Police Command on Friday in Jos.

According to him, the duty of a policeman on election day is to support the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) conduct a credible and peaceful elections in the state.

“Your duties on election day are clearly spelt out. You are to support INEC conduct an election that is free, fair, credible and meets international best standard.

“You must be professional and maintain neutrality while discharging your functions. You must ensure nobody influences you to act to the contrary,” he said.

The DIG said any policeman caught flouting electoral guidelines would be decisively dealt with.

He called on those contesting in the elections to desist from making inflammatory statements capable of breaching public peace, urging them to accept the verdict of the people at the polls.

The police boss also urged residents of the state to conduct themselves peacefully during and after the polls.

Earlier, Mr Isaac Akinmoyede, the Commissioner of Police in the state, had said his officers and men were adequately prepared for the task ahead.

He said all  arrangements had  been concluded to ensure that  the personnel perform their duty of safeguarding electoral officials and voters as well as  materials during the election.