LG election: Kano Police Commissioner warns politicians against violating electoral rules

From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

The Kano State Commissioner of police, Aderenle Shinaba, has fired strong warning to politicians against violating electoral rules and regulations ahead of the forthcoming local government elections in the state.

Shinaba, who stated this yesterday during a meeting with political party chieftains at the Police Officers Mess in Kano metropolis, said that there are stipulated guidelines to the conduct of elections which the politicians must adhere to.

“This meeting is to send a sound of warning to you, the politicians that this time around, you must play the game according to the rules. There are stipulated guidelines to every elections that the politicians must adhere strictly to. As security agents, we have been putting ourselves together with the INEC to make sure we get everything right in order to have an internationally standard election in Kano. That is the essence of calling the politicians because they are the stakeholders,” he said.

He further assured the safety of journalists during the election, stating “ For real, we guarantee the safety of your lives during the election because you are on a national service. We guarantee you safety but you must be accredited by the KANSIEC” he said.

According to him, “The police will intimate the Kano State Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC) on the timely arrival of the election materials during the forthcoming council elections. We will also escort the election officials in order to provide protection for them.”

On their part, the politicians spoke on certain issues concerning politics and elections in the state. Speaking, the All Progressive Congress (APC) chieftain, Alhaji Baffa Babba Dan Agundi, deputy APC chairman, Kano Central, assured Shinaba of their readiness to conduct free and fair elections.

He also suggested that the police commissioner, being new in Kano, should seek for information on political and religious gathe ring in the states, arguing that “thugs also create havoc in religious functions in the state. It is not only political gatherings that have thugs.”