The Police Service Commission said on Tuesday that police personnel assigned to election duty in November 11th Governorship elections in Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa states would be held accountable for their actions and inactions throughout the period of the election.
The commission said it had concluded arrangements to deploy Staff monitors that would report on police personnel in the three states of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa.
The Staff Monitors are expected to be deployed to all the Senatorial districts in the three states and have been mandated to monitor strictly the conduct of Policemen on election duties in the three states, a statement by Ikechukwu Ani the Head ,Press and Public Relations said.
“The Commission will hold these Police Officers accountable for their actions and inactions throughout the period of the election and will not hesitate to discipline appropriately any officer found wanting in the discharge of his/her election duties.
It reported the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Solomon Arase, as commending the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun, for the material support he has made available for proper policing of both the electorates and election materials.
“Dr. Arase said the provision of essential security architecture by the Inspector General of Police should serve as enough motivation for the Police to ensure a free and fair elections.
“He demanded that the Officers should reciprocate the support from the IGP and conduct themselves creditably before during and after the elections.
The PSC Chairman said the Officers on election duties like Ceasers wife must be above reproach adding that they must conduct themselves in line with established laws and guidelines on election duty.
He noted that the success or failure of the election largely depends on the actions and inactions of the officers and warned that misconduct during the elections must attract commensurate consequences.
The monitoring of Police Conduct during elections is the Commission’s contribution to the sustenance of credible and lasting democracy in Nigeria. The success or not of the elections has a lot to do with the performance of Policemen on election duties especially as the government lead Agency in internal security.