The Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has again warned voters not to remain at the polling centers after casting their votes on Saturday.
Mr Abba, on Tuesday told a gathering in Abuja, in very clear terms, that the security operatives expect everyone to vote and go.
The IGP made the pronouncement during the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC stakeholders’ meeting.
This view had been opposed by the political parties and INEC.
INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, had repeatedly maintained that voters could stay and protect their votes after casting their ballot as long as they conduct themselves in such a way that they do not run foul of the Electoral Act.
The IGP, however, insists that voters should not wait after the voting exercise because there is high possibility of committing electoral offense if they stay back.
He also added that each polling unit would have at least two or three policemen to protect votes cast by voters.
“We will go on to protect the electorate. Every eligible voter should feel safe enough to cast his votes. We will be there to protect the votes and make sure no one disrupts the process,” Abba said.
The INEC Chairman, during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunrise is of the opinion that voters can wait peacefully for ballot papers to be counted without being violent.
