DIG MBA Promises Transparent Imo Guber Poll, As Police Parley Media, Civil Society Groups

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Ahead of today’s Imo governorship election, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in-charge of the exercise, DIG Frank Mba, has assured that the force would do everything lawful to ensure a transparent, free, fair and credible election on Saturday, adding the agency had the necessary resources, manpower and operational assets to achieve its objectives.

DIG MBA, disclosed this at the Imo State Police Headquarters, Owerri, during a parley with accredited observers, including Journalists and members of the Civil Society Organisations.

He noted that the interactive session was important giving the key roles the participants play in ensuring credibility of elections and the need to strengthen the strategic partnership between them and the police in achieving peaceful, transparent and fair elections.

Flanked by AIG Echeng Eworo Echeng from Zone 9 Umuahia and CP Olatoye Durosinmi from Akwa Ibom State, DIG MBA stated: “This meeting is very important because we acknowledge the very key roles that election observers and members of the Civil Society Organisations play in strengthening our electoral processes.

We acknowledge the fact that in many diverse and significant ways, they have contributed in improving the transparency and integrity of our electoral processes. So, for us, both local and international observers are our key partners.

This meeting should help bring to our notice your areas of security concerns for us to address them.

“One of the key areas we are appealing to all of you to support is in the areas of fact-checking fake news. You all know the damage that deliberate misinformation, disinformation and outright falsehood can do to the credibility of our electoral processes.

You know the potential implication they have to the internal security and safety of the people, including their capabilities of igniting conflicts and all kinds of disturbances, including riots and demonstrations when they are not properly fact-checked and dealt with properly.

“Therefore, I want to appeal as you return to the field to perform your responsibilities, please help us to ensure that every bit and piece of information at your disposal are properly verified before pushing them out,” DIG pointed out, while admonishing the participants on professionalism and conducts capable of helping the force achieve its objectives of ensuring free, fair and credible Imo governorship election.

This was as he gave out the Police Election Control Room numbers as: 08034773600 and 08098880197 to the participants and members of the public to reach the force when the need arises, promising to protect their identities.

Praying for a transparent electoral outcome, DIG Mba, gave hint on the preparedness of the force towards ensuring the safety of all the voters, declaring: “We have finished our deployment and I would say that we are lucky because it is an off cycle election.

Therefore, we have sufficient resources to deploy for this election. We have sufficient manpower. We have sufficient operational assets and we will make maximum use of this assets. We are also collaborating with our sister agency, the military and other paramilitary agencies as well as civic-minded people like all of you.

“We are positive that with all we have put on ground and the support of the people, we will have a peaceful election tomorrow. We will be guided by the Constitution of the country. We will be guided by the Electoral Acts. We will also be guided by our conscience, our duties to God, our duties to humanity and to our people. We will do what is right and what the law sanctions tomorrow.

“We have to prove the doomsayers wrong. Imo State is not a war zone. Imo is not on fire. Whatever are the security challenges are not unsurmountable. Whatever are the difficulties might be tough and tasking, but are clearly not somethings we cannot surmount.

So, let us work together and I am positive that we will deliver on our task,” he added, and stressed the need for all the stakeholders to collaborate with the force. DIG Mba, used the opportunity and called on political parties and candidates to conduct themselves according to the electoral guidelines, while urging voters to go out and exercise their franchise, as he promised safety for all.

-Princely Onyenwe reporting

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