2015: IGP Plots To Stop Politicians With Criminal Records

Inspector general of
police, Suleiman Abba
declared yesterday that
no politician with
criminal record will be
allowed to contest any
position in the 2015
election noting that the
force will collaborate
with the Department of
State Security to screen
out such politicians.
Abba made the
declaration just as he
said only one of the over
20 Police officers still
missing after Boko
Haram terrorists
attacked the Gwoza
Camp of the Police had
returned while nothing
has been heard of the
others.
Speaking at a meeting
with DIGs, AIGs, and
States Command CP’s in
Abuja, the IGP assured
that with 2015 general
elections around the
corner, the Nigeria
Police has concluded all
security arrangement to
provide enabling
environment for free
and fair elections.
He, however, warned
that politicians vying for
one office or the other
should be ready to play
by the rules and accept
defeat in good faith or
use legal and legitimate
process in presenting
their grievances adding
that any one that will
want to take the laws
into his hand will be
fiercely resisted by the
police.
His words, “We urged
the contestants to play
the game according to
the rules and to also
accept where he loses. A
winner must emerge.
Once he emerges, the
looser must accept the
loss. Whoever decides to
take the laws into their
own hands, whether
around the tribunals or
even outside without
reference to the tribunal,
you want to take the law
into your hand because
you have lost any
election, let me say that
we will not take it kindly
with you.
“The law will take its
course, not minding who
you are and where you
belong. We will make
sure that there is peace
and tranquility and we
will make sure that the
majority continue to
enjoy for the service we
are made to provide.
Like I said, the focus of
this meeting will be on
the issues of the election.
“We have made
adequate arrangements
to ensure that the police
provide sufficient
security for all the
activities leading to the
general elections. These
activities have started
including the
registration of voters,
the party primaries, the
selection of candidates
and screening, the
conventions by the
parties and many others
including the very
important one which are
the campaigns by all the
political parties and all
the candidates.
“In all these activities,
the police will ensure
that adequate security is
provided to the officials
who are conducting the
election, INEC officials.
When it get to the issue
of screening, we will
collaborate with our
colleagues, particularly
the Directorate of State
Security to ensure that
candidates with criminal
records are not allowed
to contest”.
“Similarly, we will
provide enough security
to the members of the
public who will partake
in some of these
activities. For example in
the registration of
voters, we will make
sure prospective voters
are secured to go and
register and on the
election day, we will
make sure that the
materials provided by
INEC are well protected
ahead of the polling date
and on the polling ahead
of the polling date, we
will escort them to their
destinations. That is to
all the states of the
federation.
“We will create the
enabling environment
for voters to feel free
enough to go and cast
their votes and if the opt
to stay their fine.”