To avoid clashes that could lead to loss of lives and prevent political thugs from using offensive weapons during campaigns, the Katsina State Police Command has banned the use of masquerades and other cudgels.
Also listed among items politicians must not use during campaigns included all kinds of weapons such as knives, sticks, machetes, sickles, axes, and daggers, which are prohibited and any person arrested would face the full wrath of the law.
The use of Masquerade for campaigns, campaigns in worshiping centres, police stations, and other public places, and the use of abusive, intemperate, slanderous, or base language during campaigns, will not be tolerated.
According to SP Gambo Isah in a statement said all these measures are in compliance with the directives of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Alkali Baba Usman.
He explained to perfect that, the Commissioner of Police, Katsina state command, CP Idrisu Dabban Dauda, held a meeting with all the political party Chairmen and candidates, the Secretary of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and all Heads of Security agencies in the state, at the Command Headquarters Katsina.
The CP stated that the political atmosphere is getting charged with the commencement of political campaigns. It becomes absolutely imperative to summon all the stakeholders for a roundtable discussion aimed at achieving a peaceful electioneering process in the state.
The CP who read a riot act to the politicians drew their attention to the provisions of Sections 92 and 93 of the Electoral Act, 2022, (as amended) which unequivocally prohibit political thuggery in whatever form; using of hooligans, Yandaba, or Kauraye as the name may be.
The CP drew their attention to the provision of Section 92(6) of the Electoral Act, 2022, which prohibits political parties, aspirants, or candidates to employ, keep or use armed private security organization or vanguard or any other group or individual by whatever name called for the purpose of providing security or assisting or aiding the political party or candidate (i.e. ban on Quasi-Security outfits in election security).
He added that the Electoral Act 2022, does not recognize the use of quasi-security outfits. Any political party, aspirant, or candidate that employed the services of any quasi-security outfit has committed an offence under the Act and risks being arrested and liable to prosecution.
The CP called on all the political parties to submit their campaign schedules/timetables to the Command for vetting so as to avoid clashes in the date, time, and venue of the political rally.
It is very important, as it will enable the Police to organize and harmonize the various schedules equitably and fairly. It will help in eliminating or reducing incidences of political clashes amongst political followers.
The roundtable discussion saw all the heads of security agencies offering professional suggestions to the politicians on a better way to go about the whole process of the electioneering campaigns, while in their individual responses, the party chairmen and aspirants, promised to abide by all the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, and other relevant Laws, they also offered suggestions for better and peaceful electioneering campaigns and called on the security agencies to call a spade a spade and deal decisively with any political party or candidate found violating the provision of the Electoral Act, 2020 (as amended).
https://any.peopleandpowermag.com/katsina-police-ban-use-of-offensives-weapons-masquerade-during-campaign/
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