The Nigeria Police Force has charged stakeholders to ensure the peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections.

The Assistant Inspector General of Police Adekunle Asafa, the AIG in charge of Zone 8, Lokoja, gave the task during a working visit to the Kwara police command in Ilorin.

Mr Asafa listed the critical stakeholders as INEC, political parties, security agencies, students, market women and all citizens with their voter cards.

He said the role of stakeholders is to ensure a peaceful election because “if anything goes wrong, it will affect all of us.”

The police chief added that the era of snatching ballot boxes had gone.

“BVAs will expose any illegal activities by any political parties, and anybody found wanting will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.

He underscored the need to sensitise youth and engage them in the electioneering, adding that if they see the transparency of the process, there won’t be any violence, warning Nigerians against carrying arms to the polling units.

Mr Asafa said the police would not tolerate thuggery, destruction of billboards and threatening or intimidating people before, during and after the election.

Police commissioner Paul Odama commended the AIG for his commitment to democracy and peace.

“AIG sir, Kwara state is a state of harmony and my men and I have

promised to do all within our power to maintain the status,” Mr Odama explained.

(NAN)