The police and the 2019 general elections

The police played a significant role in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria. Here are some key aspects of their involvement:

1. Security Arrangements: The police, in collaboration with other security agencies, made elaborate security arrangements to ensure a peaceful and secure environment for the elections. This included deploying personnel to polling stations, monitoring the movement of people and vehicles, and providing backup support to other agencies.
2. Voter Intimidation: The police were tasked with preventing voter intimidation and ensuring that voters were able to exercise their franchise freely. They worked to maintain law and order, and arrested individuals who attempted to disrupt the electoral process.
3. Polling Station Security: Police personnel were stationed at polling stations to provide security and prevent any form of electoral malpractice. They also helped to maintain order and ensured that voters were able to cast their ballots without interference.
4. Monitoring of Campaign Activities: The police monitored campaign activities to prevent violence and ensure that political parties and their supporters adhered to the Electoral Act and other relevant laws.
5. Arrests and Prosecutions: The police arrested and prosecuted individuals who were involved in electoral offenses, including vote-buying, ballot snatching, and violence.
6. Collaboration with Other Agencies: The police worked closely with other security agencies, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), to ensure a coordinated and effective response to any security challenges that arose during the elections.
7. Training and Deployment of Personnel: The police trained and deployed personnel to polling stations and other strategic locations to ensure that they were adequately equipped to handle any situation that might arise during the elections.
8. Communication and Coordination: The police maintained effective communication and coordination with other agencies and stakeholders to ensure that they were able to respond quickly and effectively to any security challenges that arose during the elections.

Some of the challenges faced by the police during the 2019 general elections included:

1. Limited Resources: The police faced challenges in terms of resources, including personnel, equipment, and logistics, which made it difficult for them to effectively cover all polling stations and respond to security challenges.
2. Corruption: There were allegations of corruption among some police personnel, which undermined the credibility of the electoral process and eroded public trust in the police.
3. Lack of Transparency: There were concerns about the transparency of the police's operations during the elections, including the lack of clear guidelines for their deployment and the absence of effective mechanisms for reporting and investigating electoral offenses.
4. Violence and Intimidation: Despite the police's efforts, there were reports of violence and intimidation during the elections, which undermined the credibility of the process and threatened the safety of voters and electoral officials.

Overall, the police played a critical role in the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, but they faced significant challenges that undermined their effectiveness and threatened the credibility of the electoral process.