Plateau Police Commissioner Bartholomew Onyeka has advised political parties against inflammatory speeches and actions during campaigns.

“I wish to firmly advise all political actors to subsume their campaigns within the extant legal framework and avoid actions or speeches that could inflame the political order,” Mr Onyeka said during an interactive session with security agencies, political parties and INEC in Jos on Wednesday.

“Party leaders and chieftains are to prevail on their flag bearers, members and supporters not to engage in any act that can incite violence or constitute a breach of peace anywhere on the Plateau,” he added, urging them to abide by the Electoral Act.

Mr Onyeka called on the resident electoral commissioner in Plateau and all state political parties to devise a campaign timetable that would address possible conflicts in dates, time and venue.

He said all political campaign timetables should be forwarded to the commissioner of police in the state for onward transmission to the Office of the Inspector General of Police immediately.

Mr Onyeka also stated that all quasi-security outfits established by the state and local communities operating under different names and structures had no legal rules under the Electoral Act and are hereby banned from engaging in campaigns and electoral processes.

He added that local security, such as Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Hunters Association, Neighbourhood Watch and others, had no legal role to play in electoral processes; as such, any involvement would amount to an act of illegality.

The commissioner warned persons who might want to engage in violence to desist from it as the force was ready to deal firmly with such characters according to the dictates of the law.

Mr Onyeka implored parents and traditional and religious leaders to monitor and prevail on their wards to be law-abiding and resist the temptation to be used by politicians to cause disturbance of public peace.

In a remark, the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Plateau state, Caroline Okpe, stated that the electoral body was poised to ensure that the elections come and go without problems.

(NAN)