Nigeria, since her independence in 1960 has conducted several elections which were believed to be marred with irregularities. These include ballot snatching, election rigging, riots and other forms of violence.
Elections in Nigeria have become synonymous with violence due to the attendant ugly incidents that have permeated and characterized the conduct of elections in the country.
Reports from both local and international media during and after the elections better explained the pathetic state of Nigeria during elections. It is so difficult to recall any election in Nigeria without shedding blood, making the country loosing several men and women of great potentials.
Though, violence and other forms of irregularities erupt in elections across the globe, the persistent irregularities in elections in the country call for concern and drastic measures needed to be taken to safe the situation.
Therefore, the Nigerian Police, established and empowered by section two-one-five of the nineteen ninety-nine Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is to among other things protect the lives and properties of all inhabitants of this country.
Equally, the Electoral act defines in clear terms, specific functions of the Nigerian Police at ensuring free, fair and credible elections. It is against this background that the role of the Nigerian police in electioneering campaigns, votings, counting or compilation of election results and other engagements in electoral process cannot be over-emphasized.
For a very long time however, the Nigerian police have been joined in many election petitions for allegedly aiding or abetting electoral malpractices across the country.
To ensure acceptable and violent free elections therefore, the Nigerian police must start training and equipping its rank and file now.
Signing the new Electoral Act into law, President Goodluck Jonathan promised that next year’s general elections would be conducted peacefully, as it is often witnessed in other parts of the world.
President Jonathan noted that signing the bill into law would serve as a clear signal to the doubting thomases of the administration’s commitment to free, fair and beyond reproach elections, come twenty-eleven.
Even with the recently released whooping some of money, seventy billion naira to the Force, it may not conduct free and fair elections if officers and men of the Police are not adequately trained ahead of the all important national assignment.
Though, the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Lagos and Ogun States, Mr. Azubuko Udah at the Lagos NUJ Press Week revealed that the Police had started training its officers and men on how to deal with the twenty-eleven elections, much emphasis must be placed on their duties on the election days, in line with international best practices.
It is also important for the policemen to desist from being used as machineries by unscrupulous politicians to achieve their selfish interests if truly, there will be credible elections in twenty eleven and beyond. Other selected security agents must also be well trained alongside the Police, on how to handle restive mobs.
The Nigerian Police must observe the rule of law in all their dealings, by giving every Nigerian equal protection in exercising their civic responsibilities, with a view to making the elections acceptable to all Nigerians and the international community.
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