Kebbi State Police Command on Friday held an interactive meeting with critical stakeholders in the state on ways to curb election related violence with a focus on the electioneering campaigns and the 2023 general elections.
Speaking at the meeting, the State Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Magaji Kontagora said it's mportant to analyze the root causes of electoral violence and examine the best practices towards preventing its occurrences and ensuring peaceful conduct of electioneering campaigns and the 2023 general elections in Kebbi State.
He submitted that the overall objective of the gathering i and discussion was to strengthen democratic institutions and structures that are considered critical to the enhancement of the integrity of the forthcoming 2023 general electoral process in the state.
"Distinguished guests, the wisdom behind inviting you to this important meeting is simply to talk to each other and to agree on how to manage the expected political competitions and conflicts in a peaceful manner.
"It is also to discuss on how to provide all the required level playing ground for all political gladiators to play the game in accordance with the laid down rules and decorum, especially as campaign activities have started.
"This forum is indeed a child of necessity, as we all know that, whenever we allow any part of the electoral processes to fail as a result of our inaction, the outcome of the election will be violence"' he said.
The CP said by section 94 (1)of the Electoral Act 2022, electioneering campaigns by all Political Parties has officially commenced on the 28th September, 2022, for the Presidential and National Assembly while that of the Governorship and State House of Assembly would commence on the 12th October, 2022.
"This means that, the national political space has been opened and the possibility of recording politically related offences across the state is glaring.
"The Police, as the lead security agency in the election security processes, has the statutory obligation to ensure the maintenance of security, law and order, with the active support of the relevant security agencies.
"The IGP Usman Alkali Baba had directed all the Commissioners of Police to liaise with the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioners and the leadership of all political parties to develop a mutually agreed campaigns time table that will address possible conflicts in terms of date, time and venue of their activities".
"The peace agreement architecture is one of the imperatives and first phase in the electoral cycle, while second cycle generally begins with commencement of campaigns and end with the polling itself. It’s success depends on all stakeholders, electoral commission, the Judiciary, political parties, security agencies and the voters", the CP said.
Earlier, the Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Illiasu Bashar who was represented by Alhaji Bello Ibrahim (Amirul Ezoromawa) enjoined political actors to play by the rules and avoid anything that may joepardize the existing relative peace being enjoyed in Kebbi State.
He also admonished them to stop providing drugs to youth with the plans to use them as political thugs for the distruption of campaign and elections in the state. "We have no other place to call our own, you should respect the peace we are enjoining here", the emir warned.
Speaking in same vein, the representatives of NDLEA, NOA, IPAC and other civil society organisations also enjoined election candidates and members of the respective political parties to refrain from what may induce violence during campaign and elections.
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