Photo: Mr Mohammed Gumel, Commissioner of Police, Sokoto State Command.
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the police command in Sokoto State has warned the state’s electorate against violating the extant provisions of the 2022 electoral law during the elections.
Mr Mohammed Gumel, the Commissioner of Police in the state, made this known in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, DSP Sanusi Abubakar on Tuesday in Sokoto.
According to Sanusi, Gumel urged the citizens to acquaint themselves with the provisions of the electoral law, in order not to be found wanting.
He said that the police commissioner urged the public to promote “the uniformity of intentions among the electorate, the candidates, government and security officials towards conducting a free, fair and credible election to thrive.”
The police spokesman added that the commissioner urged citizens “to avoid falling foul on any of the 11 major electoral offences contained in the Electoral Act, 2022 ,as amended.
He listed 11 provisions of the electoral law which the electorate must particularly observe during the elections to include the following:
“1. Voting by unregistered persons: Attempt by unregistered persons to vote without PVC violates Part VII, No. 124 of the Electoral Act and you could be liable to 6 months jail term or N100,000 fine or both.
“2. Secrecy in voting: Exposing voters’ confidentiality violates Part VII No. 122 of the Electoral Act. Electoral officers, candidates or party agents who pays to ask voters for evidence is punishable with N100,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment or both.
“3. Vote buying: Vote-buying or selling with money, contract or public office, etc violates Part VII No. 121 of Electoral Act and punishable with N500,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment or both.
“4. Disorderliness at polling units: Public disorder, arguments, struggles in queues, possession of weapons at poling units Part VII No. 125 of Electoral Act and punishable with N500,000 fine or 12 months in jail or both.
“6. Wrongful voting and false statement: Voting illegally or falsely publishing candidate’s withdrawal or personal character violates Part VII No. 123 of Electoral Act and punishable with N100,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment or both.
“7. Threat: Direct or indirect threat with violence to compel or refrain voters or other freedom during election violates Part VII No 128 of Electoral Act and punishable with N1,000,000 fine or three years in prison.
“8. Undue influence: Giving or accepting monetary or other inducements before or during an election to refrain from voting on election day violates Part VII No. 127 of Electoral Act and punishable with N100,000 fine or 6 months imprisonment or both.
“9. Snatching or destruction of election materials: Snatching or destruction of election materials or devices violates Part VII No. 126 of Electoral Act and punishable with 24 months imprisonment.
“10. Impersonating Electoral official: This attracts N1,000,000 fine or 12 months imprisonment or both.
“11. Other offenses: These include: Unlawful possession of a ballot paper, illegal printing of ballot papers or illegal production or importation of ballot boxes all attract a fine of N50,000,000 or imprisonment of not less than 10 years or both.”
Gumel warned that the command would decisively deal with violators in accordance with the provision of the Electoral Act, the Constitution and other extant laws.
He therefore urged law-abiding citizens, especially political parties and candidates to prevail on their members and followers to always note and remain guided on the provisions of the aforementioned electoral offences.
Gumel lauded the continuous cooperation of critical stakeholders, especially those who attended the command’s maiden stakeholders Colloquium.
He also appreciated the support and understanding which the command has so far enjoyed during the ongoing political parties’ campaigns.
“The command specifically appreciate the enormous support from the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the judiciary, media houses, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), the Zonal Office of the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for their contributions towards sensitizing the public,” he said.
“He urged them to continue to promote wider circulation of the jingle series being rolled out by the Police Command aimed at educating the general public,” Sanusi quoted the Commissioner of Police as saying in the statement.
