In the past, after voting during elections, many Nigerians stay back at the polling booths,to witness the votes being counted. But the Inspector General of Police,Suleiman Abba has said no one should wait at the polling booths.
Two to three police officers will be attached to each polling unit, and we would provide more officers for the collation centres and for the managers of the elections.
“We will go on to protect the electorate. Every eligible voter should feel safe enough to cast his votes. We will be there to protect the votes and make sure no one disrupts the process.
“Cast your votes and go and cool down. If you remain there, there is a likelihood that you will commit an offence.’’
“Asking voters to wait and protect their votes implies taking the law into their own hands. It is unacceptable. “We have heard some people are threatening to declare election results; we hope it is not true. If you don’t accept the declared result by INEC (Independent National Electoral Commission), the best way is to proceed to the tribunal.
In advanced democracies, people don’t take the law into their own hands but resort to tribunals.
“The refusal to accept the result and resort to extrajudicial activities is a threat to the electoral process. But where they don’t heed the appeal, the police will act within the law to protect the electoral process.”