The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday urged all political parties in the state to shun violence during and after the forthcoming general election.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Alabi Abiodun gave the charge during the meeting with a Theme: Stakeholders Meeting on Election Security”.
CP Abiodun noted that it is important to hold the meeting so as to discuss issues that are affecting each political parties in the state.
Alabi warned political thugs, cultists and other trouble makers to stay away from pooling booth and avoid trouble as they would be visited with the full wrath of the law.
He said: “I want to advise political leaders here to go back home and warn their supporters that the police are fully ready to deal with anyone caught fomenting trouble in the state. I also want to warn that anybody who has no business at the pooling booth should remain indoors or risk the wrath of the police. I equally want to warn everyone to play by the rules of the game as anybody who is caught on the contrary no matter how I highly placed will be visited by the law. Parents should equally warn their children to be law abiding because we won’t listen to anybody when we arrest any trouble makers.
“Go back to tell your men and advice them to play the game according to the rules, because we are not going to spare anybody when they are caught. On the area of cultism in Lagos, we want to assured you that no cultists or political thugs would be allowed in the state. We are going to ensure that no political parties supporters be would intimidated in the state. I am impressed with the way the political parties conducted themselves here, I also want you to do so during the election and after, we are not going to allow anyone to compromise at the pooling.”
He further said whoever that want to apply for police protection should apply. We want to encourage level playing ground to all political parties, and those whose banners were damaged or removed should report to us at the police command.
“Policemen supporting political party to have upper hand against other parties would not be allowed. I want you to see police as your own, give us information and cooperation to work.
We would also discourage brutality and we would continue to work with you and guarantee your security.
“Anywhere you noticed miscreants harassing your supporters please put it to our noticed, we have flash points we are focusing on especially Lagos Island, Ikorodu, Mushin and other areas in the state.”
The Lagos State Residents Electoral Commission, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje who is represented by the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Adebisi Oladapo said INEC is very ready for the election but pleaded that politicians should play according to rules of the election.
Everything is ready, the BVAS is also ready, we used it in Ekiti, Osun and its worked, it would work in Lagos and other parts of the country we will not disappoint Nigerians during the election.
Other security agencies that participated in the meeting include; NSCDC, FRSC, Immigration, Prison, Army, DSS and other para military agencies in the state.
