Rivers police warn politicians against inflammatory comments

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju

The Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, has urged political parties and their candidates for the 2027 general elections to shun inflammatory comments during the campaigns in order not to create tension in the state.

Adepoju emphasises the need for them to engage in issue-based campaigns and display maturity at all times.

This was also as stakeholders, including party leaders, traditional rulers and civil society organisations, called on political actors, security agencies and citizens to embrace peaceful conduct before, during and after the polls.

These calls dominated  discussions at a one-day Rivers Dialogue, organised by the newsroom of Megalectrics Limited, operators of Beat FM, Classic FM and Naija FM, in collaboration with the Professor Oke Onuchuku Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt

The dialogue with theme ‘Peaceful Elections: Sustainable Path for Economic Development,’ brought together political actors, traditional rulers and other stakeholders to discuss ways to prevent electoral violence and strengthen democracy in the 2027 polls.

Addressing the participants, Adepoju, said peaceful elections were necessary to sustain investors’ confidence, protect businesses and create an environment for development.

Represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police (Operations) for the Rivers State Police Command, Ikechukwu Okoro, the state police boss urged political parties to discourage violence among their supporters and advised candidates to focus on issues and refrain from inflammatory rhetoric.

He said,” As political parties you are supposed to based your campaigns on issues. Election is not a do-or-die amtter. Parties and candidates should avoid inflammatory statements to avoid tension.

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“We will do our jobs as police. We advised parties to obtain permission for their campaigns so that we don’t have a situation where two parties are having a rally in the same area”.

Also speaking, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, said credible elections required the collective responsibility of citizens, political institutions and electoral stakeholders.

He said: “A free, fair and credible election in 2027 cannot be guaranteed by INEC alone. It requires a collective responsibility, civic discipline, moral courage and active participation of every citizen.”

Speaking, Paramount Ruler of ElelenwoKingdom in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the state, HRH Sunny Chukwu, called for proper training and orientation for security personnel deployed for election duties.

The All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Rivers State, Kingsley Chinda, pledged his commitment to peaceful elections and governance, emphasising that protecting lives and property remained the primary responsibility of government.

“I am fully, unconditionally committed to a peaceful election and peaceful governance in Rivers State,” Chinda said.

Other governorship candidates, including those of the Social Democratic Party and the Peoples Redemption Party, National Rescue Movement as well as Boot, also expressed their commitment to non-violent elections in the state.