Kogi poll: We’re fully ready for troublemakers – IGP

From Ahmad Ibrahim, Lokoja

The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu has warned those planning to disrupt this Saturday governorship poll in Kogi State to be prepared to face the dire consequences.
Speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting organized by the Independent National Electoral Commission, ahead of the coming governorship election, the police boss warned hoodlums to steer clear of polling units, saying anyone caught tormenting trouble would be severely dealt with.
This is even as some thugs forcefully prevented the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, Natasha Akpoti Esq from attending the stakeholders’ meeting.
He pointed out that election is not a war, and that those carrying arms would be doing themselves a lot favour by submitting same to the law enforcement agents, adding that anyone caught with m before, during and after the election would face the full wrath of the law.
He further assured that the police has enough men on ground to confront challenges that might be propped up as a result of the exercise, even as he promised that a level playing ground would be provided for all contestants and political parties.
The IG equally warned politicians not to move anyhow from one poling unit to another during the poll, and warned security agents against following some officials to polling booths, carrying arms.
He warned that any policeman found violating the rules of the game would be dealt with, even as he disclosed that all security agents to be deployed for election duty would be carrying INEC accredited tags to prevent disruption of the exercise by fake security agents.
Also speaking, the chairman of INEC, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu disclosed that all arrangements have been put in place to ensure a hitch free governorship election on Saturday.
He assured that the process would not only be transparent, but free and fair, even as he stressed the need for the contestants and political parties to eschew violence, more so that ought not to be taken as do or die affair.
Akpoti had arrived Idrinana Hotel, venue of the stakeholders’ meeting where some governorship candidates, including the governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello are already seated, while the meeting was going on, and attempted to join the meeting, but was forcefully prevented by some thugs.
The SDP candidate has been having a running battle with the APC led government in the last few days, following the invasion and burning down of the state secretariat of the party.
She put the ugly development at the door step of the ruling party, accusing them of unleashing mayhem in the state, with a view to remaining in power in the next political dispensation.
Highlights of the stakeholders meeting was the signing of peace accord by the contesting parties and candidates ahead of the governorship election on Saturday.