● Says success of polls depends on performance of policemen
The Police Service Commission, PSC, has mapped out strategies to monitor the conduct of police personnel to be deployed in Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa States for electoral duties in the next Saturday’s governorship elections.
The commission, which disclosed plans to deploy staff monitors for the exercise, said monitoring of Police conduct during elections was part of its contribution towards the sustenance of credible and lasting democracy in Nigeria.
According to it, “The success or not of the elections has a lot to do with the performance of Policemen on election duties especially as the government lead Agency in internal security”
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector General of Police, said the Staff Monitors were expected to be deployed in all the Senatorial districts in the three states and had been mandated to monitor strictly the conduct of Policemen on election duties in the three states.
Arase said the Commission would hold these Police Officers accountable for their actions and inactions throughout the period of the election and will not hesitate to discipline appropriately any officer found wanting in the discharge of his/her election duties.
A statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by Ikechukwu Ani, Head Press and Public Relations, quoted Dr. Arase to have said the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun deserved commendation for the material support he has made available for proper policing of both the electorate and election materials.
Dr. Arase said the provision of essential security architecture by the Inspector General of Police should serve as enough motivation for the Police to ensure free and fair elections.
He demanded that the Officers should reciprocate the support from the IGP and conduct themselves creditably before during and after the elections.
The PSC Chairman said the Officers on election duties like Ceasers’ wife must be above reproach, adding that they must conduct themselves in line with established laws and guidelines on election duty.
He noted that the success or failure of the election largely depends on the actions and inactions of the officers and warned that misconduct during the elections must attract commensurate consequences.
The PSC Chairman prayed for God’s travel mercy to all staff monitors who are travelling for this national assignment.
