Ahead of the 2023 general elections and the increase in the rate of political violence in the country, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba has alleged that some state governors are championing political violence.
IGP made the disclosure while speaking during the stakeholders meeting at the force headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
He disclosed that the police have been receiving reports of some state governors who encourage political thugs and sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt seamless and statutorily guaranteed campaign activities of parties or candidates with whom they hold opposing political views.
According to him, “in so doing, they deploy their powers and influences to either prevent the mounting of campaign billboards or pull them down, while also denying political opponents of spaces to undertake their campaigns or peaceful political congregations in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022.”
IGP said that the force was putting in place measures to combat all forms of political violence ahead of the election season.
He noted that some of the measures include heightened intelligence activity and increased deployment of security teams to all INEC assets and facilities nationwide.
The IGP also vowed to promptly arrest and prosecute persons found to have perpetuated electoral violence.
