Arase Deploys PSC Staff To Monitor Police Officer’s Activities In Off Season Elections

Arase Deploys PSC Staff

OpenLife Nigeria reports that driven by a committed desire to consistently ensure that the Nigeria Police Force are up to their billing as dependable and professional internal security agents, Dr. Solomon Arase, Chairman, Polce Service Commission, PSC, deployed its personnel to monitor the activities of Police officers on duty in the off season elections holding in Kogo, Bayelsa and Imo States respectively.

A statement signed by Ikechukwu Ani, PSC Head, Press and Public Relations and made available to OpenLife disclosed that the Service Commission deployed its officers to the nine Senatorial districts of Kogi, Imo and Bayelsa States.

The statement stated that Police men on election duty were courageous and fairly contained intermittent cases of attempts to hijack the elections, adding that officers in several of the Polling Units visited were courteous, approachable and professional.

The Commission monitored five of the eight local governments in Imo West. In Imo North and East, there were visible patrol of Policemen in collaboration with the Military on the major roads with Police helicopter said to have hovered over the voting space throughout the election period.

Police Officers were said to have arrived in most of the voting units in Bayelsa very early, properly dressed and exhibited high level of professionalism.

PSC Monitors sighted an average of two policemen in most of the voting units while in few others one Police personnel were seen.

The Police were said to have sent early signals in Kogi State where it reportedly arrested several miscreants who attacked Polling Units. The Officers on election duty were complimented by Officers from sister Agencies.

Chairman of the Commission Dr. Solomon Arase, CFR, retired Inspector General of Police who monitored the exercise in Kogi commended the three Deputy Inspectors General of Police who supervised Police operations in the states for their quick responses to the Commission’s intermittent requests for Police intervention in troubled areas.

The DIGs were, Frank Mba; Sani Habu and Daniel Isokari-Pedro.

Dr. Arase advised that the Police should remain on guard and prepared to forstal any breakdown of law and order after the announcement of the election results.

He also directed that in the few places where there were pockets of Police misconduct, the Police Management should quickly investigate and forward its recommendations to the Commission for immediate disciplinary action since every act of misdemeanour must have commensurate consequences.

Dr. Arase said the Commission will continue to monitor police conduct during elections as it serves to put the Police on its toes for optimal performance.

The PSC Staff Monitors operated from the nine Senatorial districts while the National Coordinating team partnered the Civil Society groups and operated from the Situation Room in Abuja.