Governors, Party Leaders Fomenting Violence, IGP Alleges

The Inspector-General of Police Usman Alkali Baba has revealed that no fewer than 52 violent cases had occurred from September 28, the day the political campaigns began formally to November 17.

The IGP who disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja added majority of the cases were politically-motivated, particularly by Governors and political party leaders

Baba spoke on behalf of other heads of intelligence agencies, saying some state governors were manifesting traits of political intolerance, which often inflamed political tension.

Three governors – Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State with his Bauchi and Benue counterparts Bala Mohammed and Samuel Ortom were invited to attend the meeting.

He said reports were being recorded against some state governors who sponsor political thugs and sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt the seamless and “statutorily” guaranteed campaign activities of parties or candidates with whom they hold opposing political views.

He accused political party leaders of breaching the peace accord signed on September 29, where they promised to abide by the rule of law and the Electoral Act.

The police chief, however, vowed that any political leader identified as the sponsor of violence would be arrested and prosecuted.

“Henceforth, therefore, we shall put machinery in motion that will, in the most proactive manner, identify, isolate, apprehend, and bring any political actor and the foot-soldiers they might be motivating to engage in violence at political rallies or any other political engagement to deserved justice,” he said.

Baba urged INEC to, in cognisance of their critical regulatory, enforcement and supervisory roles as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2022, assert their statutory powers, and scale up their compliance actions towards complementing the Nigeria Police and other law enforcement agencies in checkmating the threats posed to our democratic order by actors within the political system.