Not less than 781 electoral offenders are in police custody for different offences committed during the recently concluded presidential and governorship elections held on February 25th and March 11th, 2023. They are to be arraigned in court soon.

The Inspector General of the Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, stated this on Monday during a meeting with Strategic Police Managers of the Nigeria Police Force which comprises Deputy Inspectors-General of Police (DIGs) and members of the Force Management Team, Assistant Inspectors-General of Police (AIGs), Commissioners of Police (CPs) and other Tactical Commanders at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Hall, Force Headquarters, Abuja, to evaluate Police performance during the 2023 General elections.

In a statement by force Public Relations Officer, OLUMUYIWA ADEJOBI, IGP further stated that the 781 electoral offenders were arrested for 489 infractions by the operative of the Nigerian Police while performing their duty during the elections.

The IGP further stated that the police and the Independent National Electoral Commission will collaborate to prosecute the offenders as stipulated in the Electoral Act, adding that all the case files for such arrests be submitted to the police electoral desk.

He further urged the political actors to embrace peaceful and democratic procedures as they advance their political interests, adding that the security will not tolerate inciting comments that can threaten national security.

The statement partly reads “The IGP seized the opportunity to commend the Senior Police Officers and Commanders and other ranks for their resilience, sacrifices, and professionalism which ensured the containment of the pockets of election security breaches across the country during the electioneering process and enhanced the overall credibility of the elections in line with the police reform initiatives of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“ He equally assured of effective collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to expeditiously and transparently prosecute the 781 electoral offenders apprehended from a total of 489 major electoral infractions across the nation, as all Commands were tasked with submitting casefiles centrally at the Electoral Offences Desk, Office of the IGP, Force Headquarters, Abuja, for coordinated processing to INEC Legal Section.

“The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, charged the Strategic Police Managers to readjust strategies and operations towards ensuring a stable post-election security order and refocus policing attention on routine law enforcement duties. He similarly, and firmly, admonished all political actors and their supporters to submit to democratic norms, peaceful means, and legal procedures in advancing their interests as the Police and other security agencies shall not tolerate the resort to incitement or any act designed to threaten our national security”.