Bayelsa Police Command Issues Strong Warning to Politicians Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Bayelsa State Police Command has issued a firm warning to politicians, political parties, and their supporters against violence, intimidation, and hate speech as the state prepares for the 2027 general elections. The caution was delivered by the Commissioner of Police, Ajao Saka Adewale, during a stakeholders’ meeting held on Thursday at the Police Officers’ Mess in Yenagoa.
The gathering was convened under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security and drew representatives from the Independent National Electoral Commission, security agencies, political parties, traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and community stakeholders.
Police Commissioner Calls for Tolerance and Responsible Campaigns
Addressing participants, Ajao urged political actors to prioritise the collective interest of Bayelsa State over partisan considerations. He cautioned against actions and inflammatory statements capable of disrupting public peace, stressing that peaceful elections remain a shared responsibility.
“Peaceful elections are a collective responsibility. Political parties, candidates and their supporters must shun violence, intimidation, hate speech and other conduct capable of threatening public peace,” the commissioner stated.
He further called for political tolerance, responsible campaigning, and strict adherence to electoral laws, while emphasising the need for cooperation among all stakeholders to prevent violence before, during, and after the elections.
Security Agencies to Deploy Intelligence-Led Measures
The police commissioner assured residents that the command, working alongside other security agencies, would implement proactive and intelligence-led measures to safeguard lives and property throughout the electoral process.
“The Police, in collaboration with sister security agencies, will deploy proactive, intelligence-led measures before, during and after the elections to prevent violence, protect lives and property, and guarantee a safe environment for voters to exercise their civic rights,” he said.
In her remarks, Mrs Eme Agbor Akpan, the Administrative Secretary representing the Resident Electoral Commissioner, urged political parties and other stakeholders to comply with the Electoral Act and established electoral guidelines.
Stakeholders Pledge Support for Peaceful Elections
Participants at the meeting commended the police commissioner for convening the forum and pledged their support for information sharing, inter-agency collaboration, and efforts to prevent electoral violence.
The command encouraged residents and political actors to embrace the principle of “Bayelsa First,” emphasising that peace should take precedence over political interests and that dialogue should be favoured over confrontation. Members of the public were also urged to report suspicious activities and emerging security threats to the appropriate authorities.
The Bayelsa State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the democratic process and ensuring the peaceful conduct of the 2027 general elections in the state.
