Ekiti Poll: Police commends officers, political parties’ conduct, warns NURTW against preventing post-election peace, as critics warn against ungratefulness over success

One of the concerned citizens said, “Reading in the news how some Nigerians, who were dazed by defeat in the last Ekiti State governorship election and had no word to utter, have now resorted to using the ‘vote-buying’ campaign as tactics to whip sentiment with intent to cancelling the election is very saddening.  Let us assume that this election is cancelled and PDP now wins in the re-run, what do they expect the APC whose clear victory they are trying to destroy to do? To say ‘yes we accept PDP’s victory’?  And so there will be no election and constitution crisis will have been created.  Do they know this as implication of what they are doing and that President Buhari will therefore declare a state of emergency in Ekiti where military will become governor; do these PDP bad losers realise this?  Which then between APC and PDP are do-or-die politicians? No need to be told, the answer is clear.

Ekiti State Police Command has saluted political parties that participated in the last Saturday’s governorship election in the state, for displaying the spirit of sportsmanship during and after the poll.

The police also cautioned members of the state chapter of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) against its effort towards truncating the post-election peace being enjoyed by the populace.

The foremost Nigeria’s security agency was speaking just as some concerned Nigerians called on some elements home and abroad to change from their ungrateful attitude towards the blessing of God over them, describing the attempt to use the so-called “vote-buying” campaign in connivance with “desperate” opposition to scuttle the successfully conducted Ekiti State governorship election.

In a statement in Ado Ekiti on Friday, the state’s Commissioner of Police, Mr Ahmed Bello, said the maturity displayed by the parties after their supporters had helped in dousing the tension is commendable.

The transport union had been embroiled in leadership crisis after the governorship election was held last Saturday.

Bello said the police won’t tolerate any act that could trigger violence and lead to loss of lives and property.

A statement by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Caleb Ikechukwu on Friday, said the just concluded governorship election in Ekiti confirmed the level of professionalism and commitment of the Nigerian Police Force to the growth of democracy in the country.

He commended the sister security agencies for joining forces with the police to make the state secured for the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) observers and the electorate.

“I extol the professionalism, civility, politeness, firmness and unbiased conducts of the police personnel and other security agencies.

“We appreciate the law abiding attitude and peaceful conduct of the good people of Ekiti State, the traditional rulers, religious leaders, local and foreign election observers/civil society organisations, for a good working relationship with the security personnel deployed for the election.”

The Police Commissioner promised that the law enforcement agency would continue to adhere strictly to guiding principles of elections and act of policing in a manner that aligns with international best practices.

As for the concerned citizens who spoke, the manner which some Nigerians love to see the negative and not positive about government because it is occupied by party other than theirs makes that the real enemies of the country they think they are playing politics to rule.

One of the concerned citizens said, “Reading in the news how some Nigerians, who were dazed by defeat in the last Ekiti State governorship election and had no word to utter, have now resorted to using the ‘vote-buying’ campaign as tactics to whip sentiment with intent to cancelling the election is very saddening.  Let us assume that this election is cancelled and PDP now wins in the re-run, what do they expect the APC whose clear victory they are trying to destroy to do? To say ‘yes we accept PDP’s victory’?  And so there will be no election and constitution crisis will have been created.  Do they know this as implication of what they are doing and that President Buhari will therefore declare a state of emergency in Ekiti where military will become governor; do these PDP bad losers realise this?  Which then between APC and PDP are do-or-die politicians? No need to be told, the answer is clear.

“Do they even consider what it costs this country to organise that election? All international community members, foreign and local NGOs testified to the free, fair and peaceful conduct of that election but PDP, the bad losers of our country apart from illegalities faking police attacks and illegal announcement of fake election results with intent to cause confusion, have now resorted to use ‘vote-buying’ in which they evidently were lead culprits as a campaign to scuttle the election success.  If some Nigerian media are helping them to hype this like they are already doing, INEC, court and judiciary must not allow them.”