Politicians shun meeting with police in Bayelsa

Posted by admin Bayelsa, Headlines, Nigerian Police, State News Wednesday, January 14th, 2015

Politicians in Bayelsa State, including candidates in the 2015 elections, on Wednesday shunned a one-day stakeholders’ meeting organised by the state police command.

The major political parties and their officials, including members of the Peoples Democratic Party, stayed away from the meeting.

Candidates vying for positions in the National Assembly and state House of Assembly also shunned the stakeholders’ meeting held at the Police Officers Mess, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital.

It was noticed that only the Assembly candidate from the Kowa Party, Okidi Werin, representing Sagbama Constituency 1, was present at the gathering.

Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, while addressing participants, condemned the absence of political party officers and major stakeholders in the state.

Ntomchukwu said, “No member of PDP is present; no APC members or candidates vying for any elective positions are present here. Even those seeking elective positions in the Senate, House of Representatives and state House of Assembly are not present.”

Ntomchukwu, who expressed sadness over the development, said the police would deal decisively with anybody or group of people that foment trouble before, during and after the elections in the state.

“Anybody who wants to foment trouble on the day of the election would be dealt with decisively, please do not be deceived by anybody that he can rig the election,” he said.

The police boss also said the police were fully prepared for the 2015 elections and called on the public to ensure total peace.

Ntomchukwu also urged the participants in the elections to cooperate with the Independent National Electoral Commission and the security agencies to ensure a hitch-free poll.

“The police have been advised to maintain law; you are asked to cooperate with the police and other security agencies in order to give peace a chance,” he stressed.

Director, State Security, Lassan Baba, also called on the electorate to ensure a peaceful poll and shun any act of electoral violence.

Baba insisted that the various security agencies would deal decisively with anybody who foments trouble during the poll.

At the stakeholders’ meeting, Head of Voters Education unit in INEC, Victor Agbonwaneta, said the commission was geared towards organising an awareness campaign at markets and motor parks across the state.

Agbonwaneta called on the electorate to ensure that they collect their Permanent Voter Cards to enable them vote for candidates of their choice.

The INEC official insisted that the commission was fully prepared to conduct the 2015 polls across the nation.

He charged members of the public to shun electoral violence in their domains.

-Punchwp_posts