By KEMI KASUMU
The Police Service Commission has dispatched a team of its senior staff to Ekiti State to monitor Police officers on election duties during the Governorship elections in the State holding this Saturday, June, 18th 2022.
Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations, who made this known in a statement dated Wednesday, June 15th, 2022 and copy of which was sent to The DEFENDER, said the Commission’s staff will be in the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
“The Commission has the Constitutional responsibility to appoint, promote, dismiss and exercise disciplinary control over Officers of the Force except the Inspector General of Police.
“The Nigeria Police Force as the lead Agency in Internal security, including security during elections is expected by the conduct of its Officers to play a major role in the success or failure of the election.
“The Commission has also designed appropriate guidelines for all Police Officers deployed to Ekiti State on electoral duties. The Commission has also released dedicated telephone numbers for Nigerians to call to complain/report unwholesome conduct or to commend exemplary performance before, during or immediately after the elections.
“The phone numbers are: 08065265651; 08072981057 and 08033345362,” the statement said.
In the meantime, Chairman of the Commission and National Coordinator for the exercise, Alhaji Musiliu Smith, has charged the Commission’s delegation to ensure professionalism in their conduct.
He warned that any staff caught undermining the efforts of the Commission to ensure orderly and peaceful elections in Ekiti will be disciplined in line with extant laws.
Alhaji Smith, who is a retired Inspector General of Police, also warned that Police officers should not compromise their rules of engagement and warned that to refrain from being partisan in the course of their duty.
