Brave Dickson
The Rivers State chapter of the Civil Society Organisation has asked the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba to not only publicly warn commissioners of police but also demote them if they connive with state governors against opposition candidates
The state CSO made its position known in reaction to the recent warning by the IGP on commissioners of police to desist from being used by state governors to prevent opposition candidates from campaigning.
The state CSO chairman, Ene-faa Georgewill said the warning was necessary but urged the IGP to attach demotion as punishment against any erring CP.
He said, “due to the enormous powers the new electoral Act has given to CPs, it is necessary for the IGP to use demotion punishment to deter CPs from conniving with state governors against opposition candidates.
“Most of the governors in this country are civilian dictators who would want to use CPs to gag the political space at the expense of opposition candidates.
“Rivers State is a typical example where Governor Wike is using an executive order to prevent other opposition candidates from using public facilities.”
He added that a lot of governors lack the spirit of democracy and the plurality and competitiveness that democracy allows.
