Gubernatorial election: we are ready---- Lagos police

PRESS RELEASE

GUBERNATORIAL AND STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY ELECTIONS SCHEDULED FOR SATURDAY 11^TH OF APRIL, 2015: OUR STATE OF READINESS.

 

The Presidential and National Assembly Elections have come and gone. In Lagos, there is no doubt that the Police in partnership with INEC and other sister Security Agencies worked round the clock to ensure that the exercise was a success. However, there were some isolated hitches that bothered mostly on logistics. As a Command that is alive to its responsibility and proactive to tackle identified lapses, we have reviewed our performance before, during and after the last elections and have fashioned out a robust template to ensure that the Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly elections slated for Saturday 11^th of April, 2015 are better.

2.     To that extent therefore, we have mobilized massively to effectively dominate every nook and cranny of the State in a very firm manner to ensure that the sanctity of the polls is maintained and preserved. We have mobilized and deployed adequate logistics to ensure that our personnel are nimble footed, willing able and ready to respond to any incidences in any part of the State. The moral of our personnel is very high and the goal is to deliver to Lagosians an acceptable and violence free Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly Elections in line with international standards.

3. We have also established a Joint Operations and Control Room. We encourage Lagosians to report incidences requiring our attention through the following dedicated lines domiciled at the Ops Room: 08079279349, 08127155071 and 08063299264. Complaints can still be forwarded to the following:

Ø presspollag@yahoo.com

Ø compolbeeops@yahoo.com

Ø our twitter handle @policeNGlagos

Ø  and on facebook.com/Police PRO Lagos 

4.     We have deployed a total of thirty six thousand, two hundred and four (36,204) personnel drawn from all the Security and Emergency Response Agencies. We have embarked on show of Force on land, sea and air to demonstrate our readiness to confront and contain any irritation that may arise from anywhere. Therefore, we most solemnly pledge to be neutral, non partisan and very firm in all our dealings and operations before, during and after the elections.

4.1. In the area of logistics, we have deployed the following:

i.      500 Patrol Vehicles

ii.     100 Buses

iii.    100 Motorcycles

iv.     7 Trucks

v.      3 Black Maria Trucks

vi.     1 Luxury Bus

vii.    15 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) minimum of four in each Senatorial District.

viii.   5 Gun Boats and Ten (10) Speed Boats to man the waters

ix.    Two Helicopters for aerial surveillance and patrol. 

5.     For the purpose of clarity as to expected proper conduct on the days of election, we wish to reproduce verbatim the provisions of section 129 of the 2010 Electoral Act as amended which deals with offences on Election Day. It states:

(i) No person shall on the date on which an election is held do any of the following acts or things in a polling unit or within a distance of 300 metres of the polling unit:

·       Canvass for votes;

·       Solicit for the vote of any voter

·       persuade any voter not to vote for any particular candidate;

·       Persuade any voter not to vote at the election;

·       Shout slogans concerning the election;

·       Be in possession of any offensive weapon or wear any dress or have any facial or other decoration which in any event is calculated to intimidate voters;

·       Exhibit, wear or tender any notice, symbol, photograph or party card referring to the election;

·       Use any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party by any means whatsoever;

·       Loiter without lawful excuse after voting or after being refused to vote;

·       Snatch or destroy any election materials; and

·       Blare siren

 

(ii) No person shall within the vicinity of a polling unit or collation centre on the day of which an election is held

·       Convene, hold or attend any public meeting during the hours of poll as may be prescribed by the commission;

·       Unless appointed under this Act to make Official announcement, operate any megaphone, amplifier or public address apparatus;

·       Wear or carry any badge, poster, banner, flag or symbol relating to a political party or to the election.

(iii) A person who contravenes any of the provisions of this section commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine of N100, 000 or imprisonment for 6 months for every such offence.

(iv) Any person who snatches or destroys any election material shall be liable on conviction to 24 months imprisonment.

6.     Our appeal to Lagosians is that they should come out en-mass on Saturday, 11^th April, 2015 and vote for Candidates of their choice without any fear of intimidation and be certain that the Command will be there for them to ensure that the process is not tainted in any manner. We enjoin them to be of their best conduct on the day of elections and shun any behaviour that is capable of causing any irritation to any member of the public. We are aware of the enormous interest the elections have generated on account of the high stakes available. We also wish to warn that anybody no matter how highly or lowly placed that conducts himself in any manner capable of derailing the process will be sanctioned in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

7.     On the day of election, because of the peculiarity of Lagos, movement will be restricted between 0600hrs (6am) to 1800hrs (6pm). We appeal to Lagosians to bear with us in the spirit of sacrifices aimed at deepening democracy in the Country.

 

8.     A safe and violence free Lagos is in the best interest of all.

   

 

                                                                                DSP. KEN NWOSU

POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,

LAGOS STATE COMMAND,

IKEJA.