As different states across the country embark on local government council and off-season elections, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police (CP), Francis Alonyenu, has cautioned politicians and their supporters that elections are not war.

Mr Alonyenu, in an interview with journalists in Yenagoa on Monday, said it was unfortunate that politicians tend to create security breaches during elections in attempts to achieve their electoral goals.

He said such attempts also make it difficult to guarantee Nigerians’ right to choose their leaders.

The CP said it was against this background that the police command in Bayelsa did its best to ensure that the last governorship election in the state was devoid of violence as the electoral wishes of the people prevailed.

He said he was glad that the command personnel conducted themselves professionally, which helped facilitate the peaceful nature of the election.

The commissioner said his command had continued to maintain the peace that characterised the election even in the post-election management dispensation.

He recalled that in the buildup to the November governorship election in Bayelsa, issues were boiling and through professionalism, the police were able to ensure that it was brought under control.

Mr Alonyenu said the command achieved that through interaction with community-based organisations and other social interest groups and the leadership of the Ijaw National Congress, among other stakeholders.

(NAN)