The Police Service Commission (PSC) says it is sending a team to Bayelsa State to monitor the conduct of Police officers on electoral duties during the governorship elections scheduled for December 5.
In a statement signed by the PSC’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Ikechukwu Ani, the commission said on Wednesday that a 19- man team of monitors led by one of its commissioners and a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, Yakubu Muhammad, would leave for the Nigerian southern state on Thursday.
According to the commission, “this is in the exercise of PSC’s constitutional mandate of holding the Police accountable for its actions or inactions.
“It is also part of the commission’s contribution to the sustenance of the nation’s fledgling democracy since the integrity of the electoral process cannot be fully achieved if the security personnel, more especially the Police, fail to discharge their constitutional responsibilities”.
The commission urged the Police officials on electoral duties to observe the rules and regulations guiding their conduct and also work within the ambit of the rule of law.
It also noted that the officers should be fair but firm and to ensure that all eligible voters were allowed to discharge their civic responsibilities without molestation.
“The Commission also wishes to warn that it will not hesitate to commence disciplinary action against any Police Officer caught circumventing the rules before, during or after the elections.
“It also warns politicians and voters to conduct themselves in orderly manner adding that they should refrain from enticing the police men on electoral duties so that they are not compromised,” PSC said.
The commission promised to continue to play its role in the advancement of the nation’s democracy and the enthronement of the will of the people during elections.
It also called on the residents in Bayelsa State to call 08033010586; 08033326666; 07064782445; 08037002162 or 08091366476 to report any police misconduct or exemplary conduct during the election.
PSC said it would also send monitors for the supplementary elections in Kogi State following the declaration of the earlier election inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The commission revealed that the police officials on electoral duties during the November 21 Kogi governorship poll conducted themselves creditably with no complaints of neglect of duty or complicity in electoral offences.
