Protection of votes: Police disagree with INEC

The police have disagreed with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) over the latters policy on the protection of votes by voters in Aprils general election. While INEC had said that voters should remain at the polling centres after casting their votes until the time the votes are counted, the police said  INECs policy was against the law. The police said the law guiding elections in the country made it mandatory for voters to stay 300 metres away from polling or collation centres after election. But political parties in Niger State have said that they would abide by  INECs  policy as the rule by the police was fraught with danger. Addressing senior police officers and representatives of political parties in Minna on Tuesday ahead of Saturdays election, the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of zone 7, Mr Felix Ogabaidu, who reminded the political parties of the law said if people were allowed to mill around polling stations there will be chaos. Ogabidu added that the INEC policy if implemented, would heighten tension and lead to great insecurity. The police boss also reeled out a 17-point code of ethics for the political parties and their supporters and urged them to respect the laws for the nation to have credible polls. Ogbaidu further told policemen that would be assigned to election duties to be absolutely impartial adding that our job is to provide level playing field for all. Dont side anybody. Let people freely cast their votes he said before warning policemen against falsehood.Virtually all the representatives of the political parties in attendance at the meeting held at the police officers mess opposed the AIG saying we will not ask our people to leave the polling centres.They also asked the police to stop indiscriminate arrest of members of the opposition if truly  they wanted to achieve free and fair elections in the country.
Click here to read full news..