Policing the elections

The 2015 elections will begin in three weeks and one of the
issues of concern is the provision of a peaceful and calm
atmosphere to enable voters exercise their rights without fear
or distress. We are gratified that the security agencies such as
the Police, Department of State Security and the military are
all geared up to provide a secure environment for Nigerians on
election day.
We commend the Inspector-General of Police for not only
ensuring that the officers are specially trained for the event,
but also putting together a 28-page pocket booklet entitled
“The Nigeria Police Force Standard Operational Guidelines and
Rules for Police Officers on Electoral Duty.”
We urge every officer to commit these guidelines to memory
and carry a copy always for reference should any doubts arise
as to what is proper conduct. It spells out clearly to officers
“their real responsibilities and ethical expectations from
members of the public.”
We also commend the police for the recent re-deployment of
the zonal Assistant Inspectors-General (AIGs), which will
shield them from undue or “familiarity” influences.
Nigerians expect the best policing they can get in this
election. We believe the country has the men and the
materials to deliver the goods. Indeed, we expect the elections
to be moderated and secured by officers who will comport
themselves in the fashion of decent officers with transparent
integrity and professionalism.
That attitude will confer on the election the credibility which
Nigerians and, indeed, the foreign election observers and
monitors expect. We must emphasise that credibility is
everything in this election, for it ensures peace and guarantees
the acceptability of the election results which is a sine qua
non for a peaceful conclusion of the exercise. That should be
the ultimate goal of the both the Independent National
Electoral Commission (INEC) and also the police.
The route to credibility is to steer a course of absolute
political neutrality which would reassure the voters and the
parties. Any action that may have the appearance of
intimidation must be avoided. The slogan must be to oversee
a “free and fair” election. A peaceful non-threatening
atmosphere must thus be created. Crowd control measures
should never be needed. In a location where huge numbers are
expected, clean, clear, unambiguous arrangements to ensure
orderliness, and prevent hustling, pushing or shoving, (which
are the first signs of breakdown of law and order) must be
made well in advance in collaboration with INEC officials.
The best attitude is for security officials to keep off partisan
disputes and never get embroiled in any act likely to be
perceived as helping any party. The jobs in a polling station
are strictly delineated. It is INEC’s to supply the voting
logistics, the returning officers to guide the conduct and
ensure voting is according to the rules. It is the duty of the
voter to vote and it is the duty of the police to keep the
peace.
The Inspector-General is promising the deployment of 300,000
officers to be boosted by 60,000 officers of the Nigeria
Security and Civil Defense Corps. Let them do a good job. In
many countries of the world, elections are held without the
need for a single policeman.
From every indication all over the country, Nigerians are
determined to prove the doomsday prophets wrong and
emerge from this election stronger and wiser. We must restate
the need for tolerance, the need for politicians to eschew
inciting and reckless statements, and for religious leaders to
point their flock the way of peace and to renounce violence.
We expect police officers and other agencies to give a good
account of themselves. Nigeria police and military contingents
have been honoured many times abroad for distinguished
service and professionalism. Nigeria expects no less in these
elections.