PSC hails police officers for resisting hijack of elections by miscreants

The Police Service Commission (PSC) has given the Nigeria Police Force high marks for preventing criminals from seizing control of off-cycle elections.

The Police Service Commission Staff Monitors in the nine Senatorial districts of Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states, as reported by Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, on Sunday, found the police officers on election duty to be courageous and fairly contained intermittent cases of attempts to hijack the elections.

Officers at several voting places visited were described as kind, approachable, and professional in the statement.

Some arrests were made in various areas, particularly in Kogi State, despite the fact that there were incidences of attacks on voting units.

“The Police were also said to have contained pockets of attacks in Brass and some other locations in the riverine areas of Bayelsa State,” said the statement.

Although there were reports of vote buying in the three states, it was reported that no police officers on election duty were involved.

The Commission oversaw operations in five of Imo West’s eight municipalities. Police and military personnel were seen on the main roads in Imo North and East, while a police helicopter was reportedly stationed over the polling place the entire time. It stated

Reports indicated that police personnel in Bayelsa appeared early and professionally dressed at the majority of polling places.

“PSC Monitors saw two police officers in most polling places and one officer in a minority of polling places.”

The police in Kogi State allegedly gave out early warning signs and apprehended multiple assailants of polling places. It stated

According to the statement, the officers on election duty were congratulated by officers from related agencies.

According to the report, Commission Chairman Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police, oversaw the exercise in Kogi and praised the three Deputy Inspectors General of Police, Frank Mba, Sani Habu, and Daniel Isokari-Pedro, who oversaw police operations in the states for their prompt responses to the Commission’s sporadic requests for police intervention in troubled areas.

After the election results are announced, Arase said the police should stay on high alert and ready to prevent a collapse in law and order.

He also gave orders for the police administration to investigate isolated incidents of misbehavior and submit their findings to the Commission for swift disciplinary action.

Arase assured the public that the Commission will keep an eye on how the police handled themselves throughout the polls, keeping them on their toes to ensure they did a good job.

Using the Situation Room in Abuja, the National Coordinating team worked in partnership with civil society groups while PSC Staff Monitors worked out of the nine Senatorial districts.