Usman Alkali Baba, inspector-general of police (IGP), says the force will not tolerate any post-election incitement that could threaten national security.
On March 22, TheCable reported that Datti Baba-Ahmed, the vice-presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), says Bola Tinubu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), did not meet the constitutional requirements to become Nigeria’s president.
Baba-Ahmed’s comment has elicited reactions from different quarters including, Festus Keyamo, spokesperson of the APC campaign council.
Keyamo said the demand for the cancellation of the presidential poll was unconstitutional.
As a result, a group known as The Natives, took to the streets of Abuja to protest against the calls for cancellation of Tinubu’s inauguration, noting that no mandate was stolen.
In a statement on Monday, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, said the IGP spoke during a meeting with strategic police managers.
The IGP said the meeting was to evaluate police performance during the general election, highlight lessons and strengths, and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance.
“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, charged the Strategic Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties,” the statement reads.
“He similarly, and firmly, admonished all political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten our national security.”
Alkali Baba also assured Nigerians of effective collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to transparently prosecute the 781 electoral offenders apprehended for violation of electoral laws during the election.
