The Police Service Commission (PSC) has concluded arrangements to deploy Staff Monitors to Bayelsa and Kogi States to monitor the conduct of Police Men on electoral duties during the November 16 Governorship Elections in the two States.
According to a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations of the Commission, 45 Staff Monitors (20 for Bayelsa State and 25 for Kogi State) will be in the two States to benchmark the conduct of the Officers with approved rules of engagement for Police Officers on electoral duties and other relevant laws guiding such exercise.
โCases of Police misconduct arising from the monitoring exercise will be investigated by the Commission and any Police Officer found guilty will be punished accordingly. The Officers are advised to ensure that they operate within the law and should be professional in their conduct while remaining neutral and apolitical.
โThe Commission Staff Monitors will be in the eight local government Areas of Bayelsa State and the 21 local government Areas of Kogi State. The team will be expected to arrive the two States tomorrow, Wednesday, November 13th, 2019 to monitor deployment of men and materials, conduct of the Officers before, during and after the elections.
โThe Bayelsa State team will be led by Mr. Austin Braimoh, Honourable Commissioner in the Commission representing the South South geo-political Zone and the Media, while the Kogi State team will be led by Bar. Rommy Mom, also an Honourable Commissioner in the Commission representing the North Central geo-political zone and the Human Rights Organizations.
โAlready dedicated telephone lines have been provided for Nigerians to call and report cases of police misconduct or exemplary conduct during the elections. The lines are; Bayelsa Centralโฆโฆ08033326666, Bayelsa Eastโฆ..08037002162, Bayelsa Westโฆ.08062583132, Situation Room, โฆ08088155981; Kogi Centralโฆ08090976725, Kogi Eastโฆ.08061509877, Kogi Westโฆโฆ.08054970152, Situation Room,โฆโฆ..09022202111
โThe Chairman of the Commission, Musiliu Smith, a retired Inspector General of Police, said the monitoring exercise is derived from the constitutional mandate of the Commission to exercise disciplinary control over the police. According to him, the Police must be held accountable for its actions and inactions including during elections.
โHe said the Commission will continue to send Monitors to monitor police conducts during elections as part of its contribution to the sustaining of the nationโs growing democracy, as the Police, the lead Agency in both internal and election security are expected to ensure that citizens are provided the enabling environment to discharge their civic responsibility and that the electoral process is adequately protected,โ the statement read.
