The Gombe State Police Commissioner, Mr. Shina Tairu Olukolu has alerted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies of a current trend capable of breaching peaceful electioneering campaigns ahead of the 2019 elections.
The meeting was aimed at creating awareness on the need for peaceful electioneering campaigns ahead of the 2019 general election.
Addressing the stakeholders meeting which included INEC, Political Parties and security agencies in the State, Mr. Olukolu said early warning signals have shown that competing political offices co-located beside each other is capable of brewing unprovoked attacks on individuals and their property based on party differences.
He explained that, “The problem that triggers security concerns is when violence is introduced to the game of politics, hence, a situation where competing political party offices are co-located beside each other and unprovoked attacks on individuals and their property based on party differences are part of the early warning signals to violence”.
According to him, a recent review has shown some early warning signals that something is not right.
He said, “The political leaders will benefit more if their followers are educated and informed on the need to live together in peace and harmony to sustain the name of all good people of Gombe state”.
He however stated that the security agencies in the State are ready to apply the law in case of breaches by individuals and groups.
In his remarks, the Gombe State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ado Gabani, said a lot has been achieved on peace and security by the APC led Federal government.
Alhaji Buba Shanu, Gombe state secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said peace does not bring itself, but is created by leaders.
He therefore commended the maturity of political parties in Gombe and appealed to security agencies to be organizing a forum where political parties will frequently meet.
The Gombe State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Alhaji Umar Ibrahim emphasized the need for tolerance among political parties.
He stated that INEC has a cordial relationship with all the political parties in the State and , called for their continuous cooperation.
