The Nigeria Police Force has urged politicians to caution their supporters against derogatory statements on one another that could spark off violence in the run-up to the 2023 general elections.
The police said, any threat to life was a criminal offence, punishable under the Electoral Act .
Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson stated this in an interview against the backdrop of online bullying and violent verbal exchange between the supporters of the All Progressives Congress(APC) presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Adejobi opined that, there has been increased cyber bullying on social media and attacks by over-zealous presidential candidates’ supporters sparking anxiety that might culminate in electoral violence during the campaigns which would kick off in September.
He stressed that the police force would not take lightly the violation of the provisions of the Electoral Act, urging anyone who felt threatened to report to the police for necessary action.
The spokesperson stated , “Threats to life is a criminal offence, and everyone has the right to take up cases against anyone who threatens their life or engages in an act capable of making their life precarious, or causing a problem in the country. Hence, whosoever feels threatened is at liberty to approach the police formally, for necessary action.
“While we urge all political actors to be law-abiding and desist from violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, we will always engage relevant stakeholders, especially politicians, in deliberations, from time to time, on how to have a seamless exercise in 2023.”
In a related development,
The Press Secretary to INEC chairman, Mr Rotimi Oyekanmi, said the Nigeria Police was apt to advise supporters of presidential candidates not to engage in violence, pointing out that no meaningful electoral activities can take place amid chaos.
He noted, ‘’It is not for nothing that the Independent National Electoral Commission works closely with security agencies under the auspices of the Inter-agency Consultative Committee on Election Security to guarantee peace in all our elections.
” My appeal to supporters of various candidates is that they should shun violence. The next general election will not be about who throws the most vicious punches. It will be about fundamental issues affecting the well being of all citizens across Nigeria.’’
