The Anambra State Police Command has entered into peace accord with the leadership of various political parties in the state, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), to ensure peaceful elections without confrontation and violence during 2019 polls.
The peace accord-signing ceremony was held on Wednesday at the Police Headquarters in Awka, the State capital.
The state Commissioner of Police Garuba Umar, said the agreement was at ensuring peace before, during, and after the elections in the state.
He said the command would maintain absolute neutrality and professionalism in line with internationally acceptable best practices as well as to provide a level playing ground for all political parties.
“The command will not leave any stone unturned in order to ensure the success of this election,” Umar said.
He said that the command had initiated strategic action plan in accordance with the vision and mission of the Inspector General of Police IGP, Mohammed Abubakar Adamu.
He advised the leadership of the various political parties in the state to call their supporters to order and be of good behaviour during the voting exercise.
The police commissioner assured them that the command was already putting necessary measures in place to ensure the success of the polls.
He added that the police would ensure a level-playing ground for all parties fielding candidates and warned youths to avoid being used as political thugs for the elections.
Umar also asked the political parties to play by the rules of the game by exploring an internal mechanism to resolve their grievances in order not to heat up the polity.
He warned political thugs, their sponsors and other misguided elements who want to truncate the electoral process to have a re-think.
“The command will not hesitate to take all necessary steps within the ambit of the law to deal decisively with any individual or groups under whatever guise and bring them to justice,” Umar said.
In their separate speeches, the state chairman, APC, Basil Ejidike, Chairman of APC in Anambra commended the exercise and urged the state security agencies, especially the police to maintain neutrality.
He urged them to arrest whoever is involved in vote buying and selling during voting.
