Osun 2018: Police Read Riot Act To Political Parties

NOA

The Osun State Police Command has warned Political parties in the state against flouting the Electoral Act, as the  Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun draws near.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Fimihan Adeoye, gave the warning in Osogbo at a stakeholders meeting organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with a German Foundation, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung.

The police boss also admonished political leaders and their followers to conduct themselves in line with the Electoral Act or face the wrath of the law.

Adeoye, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner in charge of operations, Mr Muhammed Abu, said the command would not condone any act of indiscipline and lawlessness.

Adeoye warned youth people in the state not to be a tool in the hands of politicians to perpetuate violence during elections, adding that anybody caught would be prosecuted.

“I want to sound a note of warning to all the political thugs to vacate the state immediately as the command would not condone any act of indiscipline or allow anybody to truncate the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

“Osun Police command has zero tolerance for violence as we do not know any political party, so anybody caught fomenting trouble would be decisively dealt with,” he said.

The Director General of NOA, Dr Garba Abari, urged political parties taking part in the governorship election to shun violence.

According to Abari, the meeting was out to ensure that the September 2018 election in the state is credible and free and good political culture is promoted.

“As an agency, we would want to have a Nigeria where our political parties will stand as developmental models, where elections will be devoid of violence,’’ he said.

The  NOA Director in Osun, Mrs Yomi Olasinde, said the agency was concern about the reports of vote buying during elections.

Olasinde added that it is unfortunate that the the people are political apathetic and the few women participate in politics in the state.

Olasinde also urged politicians to desist from the habit of seducing the electorate with money at polling booths.

She called on security agencies to ensure the safety of election observers, voters and other stakeholders who have constitutional roles to play during the poll.

The meeting had in attendance representatives of political parties, traditional rulers, human rights organisations as well as religious leaders.