Mr. Ali Mohammed Ari, Delta State Police Commissioner, revealed yesterday that scores of police officers were undergoing an orderly room trial at Delta State Police Headquarters in Asaba for allegedly assisting politicians in disrupting or manipulating election results in the February 25, 2023 elections.
Ari, who made the news at a stakeholders’ roundtable advocacy meeting in Asaba, did not specify how many officers were being investigated for tampering with the rules of the game.
Ari, speaking through CSP Danjuma Alex, pledged Delta residents of their protection during the upcoming gubernatorial and House of Assembly elections on March 18, 2023.
The Director of the National Orientation Agency, Mr. Chris Anyabuine, said Nigeria’s democracy was on pace, but “we must embrace the culture of getting things done well, at all times”.
He exhorted both politicians and voters to “play by the rules of the game because we are still learning.” He stated that elections should not be viewed as a do-or-die situation.
Prof. Chike Edozien, Asagba of Asaba, represented by Chief Christopher Chukwura, said INEC’s failure to follow its laws was anti-democratic. He warned that a repeat of the atrocities that transpired during the February 25 presidential elections would be disastrous for the country.
Chief Tony Igwebuike, State Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), criticized INEC for the delay in distributing electoral materials to the various wards. He advocated for enough logistics to mitigate issues that could lead to voter disenfranchisement.
