Stop your followers from violation of Electoral Act – Election Security Committee tells Sokoto politicians

By Muhammad Nasir

Sokoto Jan. 7, 2023

The Inter -Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) in Sokoto State has urged politicians in the state to checkmate their followers against violation of the Electoral Act ahead of the February and March general elections.

The ICCES made the call at its second critical stakeholders’ meeting with the political parties’ Chairmen and Secretaries convened on Saturday in Sokoto.

This is contained in a statement issued to newsmen in Sokoto on Saturday by the spokesperson of the State Command, DSP Sanusi Abubakar.

Abubakar said the highpoint of the meeting was the signing of an Oath of Commitment by the representatives of all the political parties in the state.

He said all the leaders of the political parties had agreed to assign a committee that would be screening their supporters and ensuring that nobody carried any weapons during their campaigns across the state.

The PPRO quoted the leader of the committee, Mr. Muhammed Gumel, Commissioner of Police in the state as assuring the political parties of the commitment of the security agencies towards ensuing free, pair and credible elections.

Gumel said “The security agencies in conjunction with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) legal teams are fully committed to ruthlessly dealing with violators of the Electoral Act.

“The aim of the meeting is to review the ongoing political campaign activities characterised by intruders.

“These are those who are habitually wielding weapons, dishing out vulgar statements on political opponents, exhibition of hard drugs and other related violence in some parts of the state.”

Gumel added that the meeting was also to sensitise the campaign organisers and offer an opportunity to reflect and address the emerging concerns.

“This is also to remind the campaign organisers of their roles as political parties of checkmating mischievous followers and always verifying what they say and publicise,” he said.

Gumel added that the decision to hold the meeting came after collective observations and decisions of ICCES in the state and the need to address the disturbing trends regarding the ongoing campaign activities.