Election Policing: PSC reacts to APC PCC rejection of Najatu Mohammed as North East coordinator

*Directs Ex. AIG Bawa Lawal to take over

The Police Service Commission,PSC, on Monday in reaction to a complaint accusing it of partisanship dropped the appointment of Hon. Commissioner Najatu Mohammed as North East coordinator to monitor the conduct of police personnel during this week February 25 presidential election.

It said though Hon Commissioner Najatu Mohammed has always supervised assignments of the Commission in the North East geopolitical zones it decided to replace her with former AIG Bawa Lawal from same zone after reviewing a letter from APC presidential campaign Council that rejected the appointment and accused it of partisanship and insensitive.

A statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, Head ,Press and Public Relations stated that the attention of the Police Service Commission was drawn to a Press Statement by the All Progressive Congress Presidential campaign Council which rejected the appointment of Hon Commissioner Najatu Mohammed.

“Najatu Mohammed is representing Women Interest and the North West in the Commission as one of the Coordinators for the monitoring of Police conduct in the February 25th Presidential election which the Council accused of partisanship.

“The Statement signed by Festus Keyamo, SAN, Director of Public Affairs and Chief Spokes person Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, rejected the appointment of Commissioner Najatu as Coordinator for the exercise.

“The Campaign Council Spokesperson stated in the Press Statement that the appointment is not only “callous, it is insensitive, openly confrontational and consequently unacceptable by the Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council”.

“The Commission wishes to state with all sense of responsibility that it’s Commissioners representing different geopolitical zones have always supervised assignments of the Commission in the geopolitical zones they represent. It was the same with the present national assignment.

“The Commission has however decided to mandate Assistant Inspector General of Police Bawa Lawal rtd who is from the same geopolitical Zone with Commissioner Najatu to take over the coordination of the monitoring of Police Conduct in the zone.

“The Commission will always be sensitive to the wishes of Nigerians and will continue to contribute it’s quota to the sustenance of the nation’s democracy.

“It wishes to restate it’s commitment to a free and fair 2023 elections where the Police as the lead Agency in internal security which includes election policing will discharge it’s duties according to the dictates of the law