The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Imohimi Edgal, has called on politicians, transport unions and loyalists of both bodies to eschew violence during campaigns, with a warning that anyone arrested for fomenting trouble would not be spared.
Edgal gave the warning yesterday when he met executive members of the different transport unions and stakeholders.
The Police Commissioner urged the union members to be more peaceful.
Saying that transport unions were an integral part of the general elections, he explained that was the reason why the Independent National Electoral Commission has decided to partner with them for logistics during the elections.
“People have the mindset that you are still the union of those days, not knowing you have grown beyond the violence period. They believe if there is any form of violence, it will be from you and I always try to convince them that you have transformed.
“Elections are here and campaigns have started. Just like the police, we leaders are not the problem but our boys. So how do we stop them from not being used by political leaders?
“Those contesting for various political posts will not put their children on the field. This is why I am telling you to call a general meeting among yourselves and tell your people to campaign peacefully and not allow anyone to use them,” Edgal told his audience.
He disclosed that the transport unions would provide logistics for INEC during the election and would also partner with two sections of the police, which are the Special Investigation Bureau (SIB) and the Bomb Disposal Unit.
“The SIB will help profile the drivers you are providing INEC with so that they can be tracked if involved in violence, while the Bomb Disposal Unit will screen the buses you provide before they move,” the CP said.
He advised the union leaders to set up disciplinary committees among themselves to check their members whenever they err.
Edgal further gave hint on a report that some people were planning to import thugs into the state to cause chaos and then flee overnight.
He, therefore, advised the union members to be vigilant and report strange faces, saying motor parks were usually the hiding place for such thugs.
The INEC Administrative Secretary in Lagos, Mr Asade Ganiu, who represented the Lagos Resident Electoral Commissioner, also urged members of the unions to conduct themselves peacefully as they partner with INEC.
“INEC needs your cooperation as you are a critical stakeholder. INEC doesn’t have the capacity, and this is why we need to partner with you for the success of the election. We will be meeting with your leaders to let them know the number of vehicles and motorcycles we need.
“In the past, some drivers, after conveying election materials to the polling units, failed to bring them back after being paid. Please search yourselves and give us your best drivers so as to make the elections successful,” he said.
The state Chairman of the National Union of Road Transportation Workers (NURTW,) Tajudeen Agbede, assured the police Commissioner and INEC officials that the union would demonstrate decency as they partner with the relevant authorities for the success of the elections.
“We are already in partnership with the police and we will cooperate with INEC to make the election a peaceful one. We will provide vehicles and also monitor our members,” Agbede said.
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