2011: Police warn politicians against carrying weapon

Posted by admin Elections 2011, Nigerian Police Tuesday, March 8th, 2011

IBADAN-Ahead of April polls, the Oyo State Police Command has warned that any politician caught with dangerous weapons during the poll would be seriously dealth with.

Unlike in the past election when the police would need directives from the Independent National Electoral Commission, the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Baba Adisa Bolanta, said the force had been empowered to make arrest without waiting for any directive.

He advised policians to refrain from the use of thugs and dangerous weapons as the whole world would be watching them.

The state police boss gave the warning at a meeting he had with politicians from various political parties in the state.

The meeting took place at the State Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, yesterday.

Bolanta said, “Nigeria and indeed the whole world is particularly watching Oyo State, being the centre of politics in the South West and we are assuring you of violence free and well conducted election”.

….As PDP, ACN, Accord Party trade accusations
IBADAN-AS April election draws near in Oyo State, candidates of the Peoples Democratic Party, Action Congress of Nigeria and Accord Party have been attacking one another in a bid to get the sympathy of voters in the state.

While Senator Abiola Ajimobi accused Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala and the ruling party of destroying his campaign billboards and posters, the governor has threatened to formally report the ACN to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, for frivolous and unsubstantiated allegations that could bring the electoral exercise into ridicule.

The governor, through his Special Adviser on Public Communication, Prince Dotun Oyelade, said the opposition had accused Governor Akala of planning to set up a Joint Task Force, JTF, comprising Army and Police to harass its members during election.

The Governor insisted that the electoral umpires should make it a duty to sanction politicians who made inciting statements.

-Vanguardwp_posts