IGP Ibrahim Idris Visits INEC Headquarters In Abuja

L-R: IGP Ibrahim Idris and INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu

The Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, today visited the Abuja headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The police boss was accompanied to the INEC office by senior police officers.

Their visit, Naija News learnt, is in continuation of consultations toward securing the electoral space for the conduct of free, fair and peaceful governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as the 2019 general elections.

The IGP was received on arrival by the INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, at the INEC headquarters.

Prof Yakubu appealed to the police to pay special attention to the buying of votes at polling units, which he says is a violation of Nigeria’s electoral laws.

”There is something that is extremely worrisome to INEC and that is open vote buying at polling units. We have seen that in more recent elections. This is a violation of the electoral act, it is malpractice and you have the responsibility to ensure that this practice is stopped forthwith. Our democracy can never be on sale to the highest bidder, ours is a democracy and not a plutocracy for the rich.”

“Therefore I would like to appeal to the IGP, as we approach the Ekiti and Osun governorship elections and as we move to the 2019 general elections to pay particular attention to this disturbing practice. We will be happy if the police will deploy Special Forces beginning with Ekiti and Osun to ensure that what transpires at the polling units is nothing but the will of Nigerians.”

The IG, promised to provide adequate security cover for the elections, warning that any one without business at the polling stations should stay off the area.