By G9ija
Usman Baba, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), has accused some state governors of contributing to the rise in political violence in the nation.
This was said by Mr. Baba on Thursday in Abuja during a meeting with the heads of political parties and other stakeholders.
In a recent meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Electoral Security (ICCES), Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser, revealed that 52 instances of electoral violence had occurred in 22 states in the country during that month.
According to Mr. Monguno, President Muhammadu Buhari has authorized the security services to take decisive action against anyone or any organization attempting to thwart the peaceful conduct of the general election.
Mr. Baba stated on Thursday that the conference was held to educate the leadership of the political parties on the rising trend of political violence and to present a united front in tackling the concerns.
“We have been receiving reports of some state governors who encourage political thugs.
“They use 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.
“In so doing, they deploy their powers and influence to either prevent the mounting of campaign billboards or pull them down.
“They also deny political opponents of spaces to undertake their campaigns or peaceful political congregations in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (As amended),” he said.
The IGP attributed the majority of violent occurrences to political extremism, false information, intolerance, incorrect political orientation, hate speech, incitement, and strategic actors’ desperation.
He claims that these individuals typically mislead their party supporters, equip them, refocus them, and encourage them to use threats, violence, and other illegal tactics to thwart rival political parties.
According to him, political violence in any way, shape, or expression is illegal under the country’s current criminal legislation as well as the election act.
According to Mr. Baba, the Nigeria Police and other security agencies will continue to be required by law to take enforcement actions to reestablish order within the political and national security systems.
At political rallies or any other political engagement, he promised to take proactive measures to identify, isolate, apprehend, and bring any political actor and their thugs to justice.
“We have also resolved to emplace firm actions that will deter targeted attacks on INEC assets across the country.
“More than a stern warning, this is a clarion call for us all, both as security agencies and political actors to speak out with one voice in condemning political violence,” he said.
According to Mr. Baba, political party leaders play a crucial role in eradicating political intolerance, intimidation, violence, and other detrimental tendencies in democratic processes.
He claimed that this was so because they were the tactical gatekeepers of our democracy, whose actions or inactions had a ripple impact on others who followed them.
The IGP urged political party leaders to be resolute in displaying the proper leadership qualities and publicly separating themselves from acts of political brigandage and violence.
