Tribunal: Police issue tough talk, warn politicians against violence

Regardless of their political inclinations, the police asked Nigerians to embrace peace and keep calm.

The Nigeria Police Force has said that police officers throughout the nation are “fully prepared” to uphold peace and order ahead of the Presidential Election Petition Court’s judgement scheduled for Wednesday.

Police issued a warning to politicians and troublemakers on Tuesday against spreading false information and making statements that could incite violence, according to Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO) Muyiwa Adejobi.

In order to prevent law and order in the nation, the police said that deployment across the entire country of Nigeria had been strengthened.

Before, during, and after the judgement, the Police are committed to protecting the protection of people and property, Adejobi added.

“The NPF has diligently implemented all necessary deployments and security measures during this crucial period as officers and men are fully prepared to uphold law and order while respecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens,” the statement reads.

Police “strongly advises everyone, including troublemakers and political gladiators, to be cautious in their actions and statements as the Force will not condone activities capable of inciting violence or causing a descent into anarchy.”

No matter what their political views were, the police advised everyone to embrace peace and remain quiet.

Earlier on Monday, Umar Bangari, the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, stated that the Tribunal would issue its rulings on the cases it had heard contesting President Bola Tinubu’s election as the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate at the time on February 25, 2023.

The court further declared that interested television stations may stream live coverage of the proceedings.

Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), and the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) are all challenging Tinubu’s election.

In the hotly contested election, Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, finished third, followed by Atiku, a former vice president.