By Olaleke ASHAFA
The Police Service Commission (PSC) has tasked police personnel to be exhibit professionalism in the discharge of their duties to ensure credible, fair and violence-free election in the country.
Justice Clara Ogunbiyi (rtd), the Commissioner of the commission in charge of Bauchi, Borno and Yobe commands, gave the charge at a special meeting with officers of the three commands on Wednesday in Maiduguri.
Ogunbiyi said that officers and men were expected to adhere strictly to the guidelines for the conduct of police on election duty.
She disclosed that the commission had adopted proactive measures to sensitize the police personnel on electoral laws and procedures, to enable them discharge their duties effectively.
“Police officers on election duty have a responsibility of ensuring that peaceful atmosphere are maintained at the polling and counting centres, and citizens exercise their franchise without fear of coercion, intimidation, violence or manipulation.
“To effectively discharge these functions, it is compulsory for every police officer on electoral duty to adhere to the guidelines,” she said.
Ogunbiyi explained that the commission would adopt 12-point guidelines to guide the conduct of police personnel on electoral duty.
The commissioner listed high point of the guidelines to include alertness; approachability, professionalism, maintenance of impartiality, fairness and avoidance of use of force, among others.
Ogunbiyi further tasked commissioners of police and other heads to educate their men on the electoral laws, warning that the commission would not condone indiscipline and unprofessional acts before, during and after the elections.
According to her, the commission would deploy its personnel to states to ensure effective supervision and monitoring of police officers on electoral duty.
In his remarks, Borno Commissioner of Police, Mr Damian Chukwu, commended the commission for initiating the forum, adding that the sensitization exercise was the first of its kind in the history of the command.
The meeting was attended by all the Commissioners of Police of the three states under the zone, as well as senior police officers drawn from the three states.
