Police charges presidential candidates to caution parties, supporters against inciting comments

The Nigeria Police Force has charged presidential candidates of all political parties to caution their party members and supporters against making comments capable of heating up the polity following Saturday’s election.

The NPF gave the caution in a statement released on Monday in Abuja by the Force Public Relation Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi. 

The Police also cautioned against mounting unnecessary pressure on the electoral process and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“In furtherance of the close monitoring of the ongoing 2023 electoral exercise, and consequent upon a series of intelligence reports, and high expectations from all angles, the Nigeria Police Force has deemed it necessary to charge Presidential Candidates of all political parties, most especially APC, PDP, LP and NNPP, to caution their party stalwarts and supporters to avoid making inciting comments capable of unnecessarily heating up the polity and creating undue excitement amongst the electorates and the general populace in the country.”

“The NPF, having assessed the trend of scaled-up expectations and psychological projections on the ongoing electoral process viz-a-viz collation of results, charges all presidential candidates, as leading and respected figures in their respective political parties, to seize the opportunity of this waiting period to emphasize the rule of law, respect for the Constitution, and constituted authority amongst their supporters, as we all owe a duty to ensure that the nation does not fall into anarchy on the basis of interests and sentiments.”

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“The Force similarly reiterates the need to desist from mounting undue pressure on the electoral process viz-a-viz the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body which is constitutionally mandated with the conduct of elections and announcement of results, as all hands are on deck to speedily conclude collation of results and declare the winner.”

The statement however commended the electorates for their patience and lawful conduct across the country.