During a meeting with senior police officers at the Goodluck Jonathan Peacekeeping Centre in Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force recorded a total of 489 major electoral infractions during the February 25 presidential and March 18 governorship polls.
He revealed that 781 offenders were arrested, and 66 firearms of various descriptions were recovered from electoral adversaries. Baba stated that a total of 185 major electoral offenses were reported during the presidential and National Assembly elections, while 304 electoral offenses were recorded during the governorship and states Houses of Assembly elections.
The culprits will be prosecuted, he assured the public, and the police will effectively collaborate with the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure that all electoral offenders are transparently prosecuted.
The meeting was also aimed at evaluating police performance during the 2023 general elections, highlight lessons and strengths, and dissect complex dynamics for subsequent optimal performance. Several states police commands are handling some of the cases, while others have been handed over to the Legal Department of the Independent National Electoral Commission for prosecution.
