The acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, has directed police officers to stay away from politicians during the forthcoming elections.
Adamu disclosed this during the public presentation of a partnership between some stakeholders in the elections.
The partnership, headed by the Transition Monitoring Group and the Human and Environmental Development Agenda, included the Police Service Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, among others.
The acting IGP said, “Everyone has a civic responsibility in ensuring peaceful and credible elections. Election materials must be secured. Electoral officials, domestic and foreign observers must be protected.
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“The Independent National Electoral Commission has rolled out the ways stakeholders should conduct themselves. On our part, we assure the nation that all electoral materials will be secured and the electorate will be allowed to cast their votes without monetisation.
“No police officer is allowed to move around with any VIP on election day. Anyone, who does so in uniform or mufti will be arrested.”
Adamu noted that all security agents would wear tags to ensure there are no fake officers “because we have heard that a lot of fake uniforms are being brought into the country.”
According to him, security agents have been instructed to monitor ad hoc staff that could easily be manipulated, “especially National Youth Service Corps members.”
He explained that observers are free to take pictures in such manner that won’t reveal which party someone voted for.