Anambra Poll: CP Shogunle Tasks Personnel On Professionalism, Human Rights
The Police Command in Anambra has called on officers and men in the state to conduct themselves with utmost professionalism and respect for citizens.
CP Abayomi Shogunle, Commissioner of Police in charge of duty made the call at an
Elections Security and Sensitisation For Police Personnel Deployed On Election Duties in Anambra in Awka on Wednesday.
The workshop was in collaboration with GTA Consultants with the theme “Securing Democracy: Empowering Police for Credible Elections in Anambra”.
Shogunle said the training and reorientation was to prepare personnel ahead of the Nov. 8 governorship election on election security management, professionalism and to adhere to the Electoral Act.
He urged officers deployed for election duty in Anambra the electoral law, rules of engagement, respect human rights and conform zero-tolerance of the command to election-related violence and misconduct.
“The Nigeria Police Force remains committed to providing a secured, peaceful, and credible electoral environment for all voters, candidates, media, observers and stakeholders.
“All officers should remain professional at all times, avoid partisan alignment, and ensure that they protect the integrity of the ballot and the confidence of the electorate.
“We assure the good people of Anambra State that adequate operational deployments are in place, and citizens are encouraged to come out and exercise their voting rights without fear or intimidation,” he said.
In his lecture, Aniekan Brown, Professor of Criminology, Dean, Faculty of Social Science, University of Uyo said human rights are alienable and must be protected at all times.
Brown said democracy was inherently anchored on preservation of such rights adding that respect for human rights and democratic policing were two sides of the same coin.
“In a fragile and nascent democracy like ours, the most dangerous moment is not Election Day-it is after the ballots are cast.
“Post-voting tensions often escalate into, misinformation campaigns, ballot snatching, targeted, assassination,, community violence, and judicial sabotage,” he said.
Chief Johnson Ateghie, Lead Consultant at GTA Consultants, of IGP Kayode Egbetokun who approved the programme wished to ensure that the Police were fair and responsible to stakeholders before, during and after the election.
Ateghie said the election security management training would enable personnel to understand their role in handling situations without unnecessary for or abuse of human rights.
Other topics discussed were “Human Rights, Democratic Policing and Managing Post Voting Threats and Electoral Integrity” “Communication Strategies and Information Management in Pre, During and Post Election”.
