The Commissioner of Police in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Olatoye Durosinmi, has warned politicians in the state to desist from the politics of bitterness and the use of thugs during Saturday’s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections.
Durosinmi, gave the warning during the signing of the Peace Agreement by the gubernatorial candidate at the police headquarters in Uyo on Tuesday.
He reminded the candidates that they are all brothers from the same country and should not do anything to disturb the existing peace in the country.
He further called on the candidates to address their supporters and followers to embrace peace and not create trouble, stressing that the security agencies are ready to deal with troublemakers.
The CP said the police and other security agencies will ensure neutrality and cooperate with all parties to ensure peace before, during and after the elections.
“We are here to sign a peace agreement. We are here to speak for each other and communicate. We must speak and see if there was negligence in the last election, so that we can correct what was not done well on the part of the politicians.
“Anything that has not been done well from the security side, we are all here to listen to you. All we are aiming for is a peaceful election on March 18, 2023, and a better election that we will be proud of.
“So, the governorship election is one of our issues and we are all ready, but we want to give a strong warning that in Akwa Ibom, we want to have zero tolerance for thugs.
“We know that some people are going to be wearing really big uniforms that day. We know that some people are going to be in uniform with big beards that they forgot to trim, so we know that.
“We also know that they will use newly painted police or military vehicles, we know that and we have remedies.
“The advice to those who want to make trouble is to repent and not do it. We are ready to deal with it decisively,” the CP warned.
In his remarks, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Akwa Ibom, Dr Cyril Omorogbe, said the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would continue to be neutral as the referee for the election.
Omorogbe, who was represented by the INEC Administrative Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ogbodu assured the governorship aspirants that the materials would arrive at the polling units on time.
He also called on gubernatorial candidates and politicians to spread the message of peace to their supporters and followers.
The Election Commissioner of the Republic of Indonesia called on the gubernatorial and DPRD candidates to be ready to accept the results of the election, because only one candidate will win the contest.
“We are here to seek peace and ensure that there will be peace before, during and after the elections.
“So, a call for the candidates and their supporters to be in harmony before, during and after the election.
“We call on all the participants who are here to tell our supporters to be calm regardless of the result, good or bad, because in every contest, the contested position will be held by only one person.
“Two people cannot be elected to the same position. So, we have to have this mindset, to preserve the culture of accepting these results in a way.
“On our part, we are dedicated to doing the best in this country as we have done before. So, we will continue to do better.
“We will make sure that this time, we will be early with materials and personnel. So, when we arrive early everything goes smoothly.
“We believe that candidates and supporters will receive the results in good faith and ensure that there is peace for all,” said Omorogbe.
Also in response, all gubernatorial candidates asked INEC to ensure the early arrival of materials for all polling units, stressing that in the February 25 election materials arrived polling units too late.
He also asked the police and other security agencies in the country to be fair and impartial to all political parties and their candidates.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that governorship candidates from about 18 political parties signed the peace accord.