The Police Service Commission (PSC) has expressed its appreciation to the officers and personnel of the Nigeria Police Force for effectively thwarting attempts by miscreants to hijack off-cycle elections. In a statement released on Sunday, Ikechukwu Ani, Head of Press and Public Relations, conveyed that the Police Service Commission Staff Monitors, deployed across the nine Senatorial districts of Kogi, Imo, and Bayelsa states, reported that the police on election duty demonstrated courage and effectively managed intermittent attempts to disrupt the elections.
The statement noted that officers at various polling units were described as courteous, approachable, and professional. Despite incidents of attacks on voting units, with arrests made, particularly in Kogi State, the police were successful in containing these situations. In Bayelsa State, there were reported pockets of attacks in Brass and other riverine areas, but the police effectively managed these challenges.
While reports of vote-buying surfaced in the three states, the statement emphasized that there was no evidence of police officers colluding with such activities during election duties. The Police Service Commission monitored five of the eight local governments in Imo West, reporting visible patrols of policemen collaborating with the military on major roads. In Bayelsa, police officers arrived early at voting units, dressed appropriately, and displayed a high level of professionalism.
The statement highlighted that an average of two policemen were observed in most voting units, with early signals and arrests of miscreants reported in Kogi State. The officers on election duty received commendations from officers of sister agencies.
Dr. Solomon Arase, the Chairman of the Commission, who monitored the exercise in Kogi, commended the three Deputy Inspectors General of Police supervising operations in the states for their quick responses to the Commission’s requests for police intervention. Arase advised the police to remain vigilant after the election results are announced and directed quick investigations and disciplinary actions for areas with reported police misconduct.
The Commission, under Arase’s leadership, pledged to continue monitoring police conduct during elections to ensure optimal performance. The PSC Staff Monitors operated across the nine Senatorial districts, while the National Coordinating team collaborated with civil society groups from the Situation Room in Abuja.
