IGP, SSS To Stop Politicians With Criminal Records

As the 2015 general elections are getting closer, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Suleiman Abba, has revealed plans to partner the State Security Service (SSS) to stop politicians with criminal records from contesting in the 2015 polls.



Tribune reports that the IGP, who made this known on Wednesday, during a meeting with top police officers, including DIGs, AIGs, and state command Commissioners of Police in Abuja, promised that the Nigeria Police had concluded all security plans to provide enabling environment for free and fair elections.

“We have made adequate arrangements to make sure that the police provide sufficient security to all the activities leading to the general election. These activities have started, including registration of voters, the primaries elections, selection of candidates and screening, conventions by the parties and many others. When it gets to the issue of screening, we will collaborate with our colleagues, particularly the Directorate of SSS to ensure that candidates with criminal records are not allowed to contest” Abba said.

Abba, at the meeting also warned politicians, especially those eying one position or the other to prepare themselves to accept defeat peacefully or approach a court to tender whatever grievances they might have, and warned whoever take the law into his hand would be severely dealt with by the police.

“We urged the contestants to play the game according to the rules and to also accept loss where the loss; a winner must emerge. Once he emerges, the loser must accept loss” Abba said.

The IGP also used the medium to disclose that the 20 missing police officers have returned to their base.

“The unfortunate incident in Gwoza is still being felt by all of us. I personally sleep and wake with the problem. The problem is that we are still making efforts to locate some of our colleagues, who got missing after the attack. What is promising is that even on Monday, we received information that one of them has surfaced. he said.

Meanwhile, following the violence that usually accompany Nigeria’s political terrain and activities, no fewer than four persons were reported killed in Lagos Island, western Nigeria on Saturday, 20 September, 2014, during a political rally.[Tribune]