From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin
The Kwara State Police Command has blamed most electoral violence in Nigeria on poor preparedness by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Mr. Gbenga Ojo who stated this in Kaiama, the headquarters of the Kaiama local government area of Kwara when he delivered a lecture entitled: “Security Awareness and Early Warning Signals” at a sensitization programme by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) towards a successful 2015 general election said perfection of preparation by INEC always determine what happen before, during and after elections.
Ojo, who is the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Kaiama Divisional Police Headquarters, said INEC perfect preparation was crucial for a free, fair and credible election stressing that it was the way that the electoral body handles the process sometimes that infuriated the electorates.
He said: “INEC should ensure that they are well prepared and that their officials are well trained to adhere strictly to the electoral Law in the discharge of their duties.
“INEC should also enforce political parties to comply with Public Order Act, which mandates any political party to seek police permission for political rally”, he said.
He appealed to political parties in the country to avoid usage of abusive and inciting languages during electioneering campaign, adding that the police would not condone any act of thuggery.
In his remark, the Assistant Electoral Officer for Kaiama, Mr. Aliyu Aminu, who spoke on: “Ensuring Massive Participation for Free, Fair and Credible 2015 General Election”, advocated for adequate participation in electoral process.
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