The Nigeria Police Force has told the presidential flagbearers of each political party to caution their supporters so as not to violate the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022.
The police said any threat to life was a criminal offence, adding that the Electoral Act is also clear on the appropriate punishment prescribed for election-related crimes.
The Force spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated this in an interview on Sunday against the backdrop of online bullying and violent verbal exchange between the supporters of the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu and the Labour Party flagbearer, Peter Obi.
A report had alleged that the Ghanaian President, Nana Akufo-Addo advised Tinubu to seek medical care and give the LP presidential candidate the chance to rule, but the Ghana High Commissioner in Nigeria, Abdulrashid Bawa, had since denied the report in a statement.
The High Commissioner described the report as false and misleading, adding that the Ghanaian leader did not write such a letter to the APC leader.
He said that punishments will be melted to anyone found with threats to life to others and everyone has the right to take up cases against anyone who threatens their life or engages in an act capable of making their life precarious or causing a problem in the country. Hence, whosoever feels threatened is at liberty to approach the police formally, for necessary action.
He urged all political actors to be law abiding and desist from violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022
He stated, “Threats to life is a criminal offence, and everyone has the right to take up cases against anyone who threatens their life or engages in an act capable of making their life precarious, or causing a problem in the country. Hence, whosoever feels threatened is at liberty to approach the police formally, for necessary action.
“The Electoral Act is clear on electoral offences and appropriate punishments. Also, our criminal laws can be applied in handling election-related crises. We have our laws and we are duty-bound to enforce them at all times.
“While we urge all political actors to be law-abiding and desist from violating the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, we will always engage relevant stakeholders, especially politicians, in deliberations, from time to time, on how to have a seamless exercise in 2023.”
