The inspector general of police, Mr. Usman Baba, has pointed fingers at some state governor for the increasing incidence of political violence in the country.
The police boss made the allegation during a meeting with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), leadership of political parties and other electoral stakeholders at the police headquarters in Abuja yesterday
The meeting, which was chaired by Baba, had in attendance chairmen and representatives of 17 registered political parties, INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu who was represented by Mrs. May Agbamuche-Mbu; director general, National Intelligence Agency, Mr. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar; chief of Defence Intelligence, Maj. Gen. S.A. Adebayo; director general, Department of State Services, represented by the director of operations, Mr. Joseph Dashwip.
The police chief said the meeting was called to engage political parties’ leadership on the increasing trend of political violence and to present a common front in addressing the issues.
“We have been receiving reports of some state governors who encourage political thugs.
“They use sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt seamless and statutorily guaranteed campaign activities of parties or candidates with whom they hold opposing political views.
“In so doing, they deploy their powers and influence to either prevent the mounting of campaign billboards or pull them down.
“They also deny political opponents of spaces to undertake their campaigns or peaceful political congregations in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (As amended),” he said.
Baba blamed most incidents of violence on political extremism, misinformation, intolerance, wrong political orientation, hate speeches, incitement and desperation of strategic actors.
According to him, such actors usually give the wrong direction to their party faithful, arm them, reorient them and encourage them to resort to the use of threat, violence, and other extra-legal means to frustrate competing political parties.
So far, he said about 52 cases of political violence had been recorded since the commencement of campaigns in late September.
While warning that the police will not hesitate to address the emerging problem, he urged politicians to desist from violence.
“Political violence manifest in three forms. First is violence that is targeted at INEC personnel and assets as recently witnessed in Ogun and Osun states. The second form is inter-party intolerance and violence, which often become particularly pronounced during campaigns, elections and post-elections phases.
“The last form of political violence relates to the conduct of some governors who manifest traits of political intolerance, which often inflame political tension. In this regard, we have been receiving reports of some governors who encourage political thugs and sub-national security outfits under their control to disrupt seamless and statutorily guaranteed campaign activities of parties or candidates with whom they hold opposing political views.
“In so doing, they deploy their powers and influences to either prevent the mounting of campaign billboards or pull them down, while also denying political opponents of spaces to undertake their campaigns or peaceful political congregations in contravention of the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 (as amended),” he added.
