The Police Command in Cross River says it will deal ruthlessly with anyone who plans to circumvent Saturday’s Governorship and State House of Assembly elections in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in charge of election in Cross River, Aliyu Garba stated this at an interactive session with stakeholders, traditional rulers, and leadership of various political parties in Calabar on Thursday.
While imploring the people to come out en mass to exercise their franchise, the Commissioner disclosed that no fewer than 7,000 officers would be deployed to ensure peaceful polls on Saturday.
He particularly charged the leadership of the political parties to warn their supporters across the state against fermenting trouble.
He pointed out that the essence of the interactive session was to develop a roadmap that would enhance enabling, conducive and convivial atmosphere for the people to cast their votes peacefully.
He said that lapses observed during the February 25th elections have been worked on with a view to a better security arrangement.
“I wish to reiterate and assure all of our willingness to draw on the experience and lessons from the just concluded elections towards strengthening our capacity and operational architecture for the forthcoming Governorship and State Assembly elections.
“In perfecting this, we solicit the continuous understanding and support of all, particularly the political actors across all party lines and the electorates to ease out the task by committing to exercise their franchise within the dictate of the electoral Act, overriding state consideration and interests,” he stated.
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He said that the Police would work with other sister security agencies towards the conduct of a peaceful poll on Saturday.
Garba also appealed to media practitioners to demonstrate patriotism and place state interest over and above other considerations.
According to him, “I expect you all to embark on investigative journalism and get accurate information before dishing same out for public consumption.
“Maintain the obligation of resisting the urge to use your various platforms to propagate fake news capable of threatening peace and security in the polity.”
