#BayelsaElection: Police Bar Personnel From Escorting VIPs to Polling Units

Posted by Odinaka on Sat 09th Jan, 2016 - tori.ng

A sanction has been imposed to Police personnel who escort their principals to polling units during today's supplementary election in Southern Ijaw council and other areas in Bayelsa state.

In a disclosure ahead of the concluding part of the Bayelsa gubernatiotial elections today, spokesman of the Bayelsa State police command, Asinim Butswat, has threatened to sanction personnel who escort their principals to polling units during Saturday’s supplementary election in Southern Ijaw council area and in 101 units across six local government areas of the state.

He said violation of the order amounts to indiscipline and disobedience, adding that any officer caught will be dealt with severely. He said,

"VIPs, political appointees are advised to desist from using security men as escorts to polling units.

They should equally restrict themselves to their polling units after voting, as movement to other locations will amount to intimidation, campaign and a gross violation of extant electoral laws.

Police officers, i.e SPU, PMF, Counter Terrorist Unit among others, are hereby warned to desist from escorting their principals to polling units on election date.

Any violation to this order will amount to indiscipline and disobedience to lawful order. Any officer caught will be dealt with severely.

The affected electorates are advised to go and cast their votes for candidates of their choice without fear as adequate security measures have been put in place to curtail the activities of miscreants."