Political Parties, Candidates Urged to Shun Thuggery, Violence as Security Agencies, Stakeholders Hold Strategic Training

Political Parties, Candidates Urged to Shun Thuggery, Violence as Security Agencies, Stakeholders Hold Strategic Training

Political parties and candidates participating in the 2027 general elections have been urged to shun thuggery, violence and other acts capable of undermining the peaceful conduct of elections in Ogun State.

The call was made during a two-day strategic workshop organised by the Ogun State Police Command in collaboration with the Development Communication Research Centre Ltd/Gte, in preparation for the 2027 general elections.

The workshop, held at Event Tower, Abeokuta, had the theme: “Elections, Security, The Law, Stakeholders and the Media.”

Speaking at the event, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, said political competition was an essential component of democracy, stressing that the Nigeria Police Force and other relevant security agencies would continue to provide a secure environment for citizens to exercise their civic rights.

Ojajuni said the activities of security agencies would be guided by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other relevant laws, assuring that the police would remain professional, impartial and non-partisan in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities before, during and after the elections.

He said, “No political ambition is worth the life of another Nigerian. Where disputes arise, the law provides legitimate avenues for redress. We must also collectively guard against the mobilisation of cult groups and criminal elements for political purposes, as well as the spread of inflammatory and unverified information capable of triggering violence.”

The Commissioner described the media as a strategic component of the electoral process, urging journalists to promote calmness and understanding and refrain from disseminating unverified or inflammatory information capable of escalating tension.

He urged journalists to maintain the highest standards of accuracy, verification, balance and responsible reporting, particularly when covering security incidents, allegations of electoral malpractice and other sensitive electoral matters.

According to him, the speed associated with social media must not replace the principles of verification and balanced reportage.

Ojajuni explained that the training, which brought together personnel from various security agencies and media practitioners, was aimed at promoting effective information sharing, coordinated planning, rapid response and proper management of emerging security threats.

Presenting the lead paper titled “Elections, Security, Community Relations, the Electoral Law and Media,” Prof. Fassy Adetokunbo Yusuf said democracy empowered citizens to exercise their rights to free and fair elections, freedom of expression, assembly and association, as well as the rule of law.

He stressed the need for an independent and neutral electoral body that would provide a level playing field for all eligible voters to exercise their franchise.

Yusuf, who quoted the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, said police duties during elections should not begin on election day but should cover the entire electoral cycle, including intelligence gathering, planning, training, protection of INEC personnel and materials, prevention of violence and rapid response to emerging threats.

He said effective election security must begin long before voters arrived at polling units, noting that early planning would enable security agencies to identify and map potential flashpoints and criminal networks.

The professor identified universal adult suffrage, one vote per eligible voter, elections free from intimidation and vote buying, transparent collation and announcement of results, and a trusted electoral umpire as some of the conditions necessary for credible elections.

Speaking on police-community relations, Yusuf said the police must establish and maintain mutually beneficial relationships with local communities, noting that effective community engagement could help prevent violence during the forthcoming elections.

He cited provisions of the Police Act 2020 on community policing, saying effective police-community relations could create a shared responsibility framework in which the police protect citizens' rights while the media provides responsible and objective public information.

“Election security cannot be achieved by the police acting in isolation. Traditional and religious leaders, youths, civil society organisations, the media and ordinary citizens often possess valuable knowledge about emerging tensions and local security concerns as elections draw nearer,” he said.

Yusuf urged the media to uphold its role as the Fourth Estate of the Realm by playing its watchdog and accountability functions responsibly.

He stressed the importance of providing citizens with timely, accurate and verified information on electoral matters to enable them to make informed decisions.

Earlier, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, said security remained a major pillar of democracy, noting that the conduct of elections and public confidence in the electoral process could be significantly influenced by security agencies.

The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Olusola Subair, described the theme of the workshop as timely and relevant.

Abiodun said election security was a shared responsibility involving security agencies, electoral stakeholders, political actors, the media and citizens.

He urged participants to maximise the knowledge gained from the training and contribute to ensuring that the 2027 general elections in Ogun State were conducted in a peaceful and orderly atmosphere.

The governor commended the Ogun State Police Command for organising the workshop, describing it as an important initiative towards strengthening preparedness and collaboration among stakeholders ahead of the elections.

Highlights of the event included a drama presentation on voters’ rights and responsibilities and the presentation of certificates to participants.