The Commissioner of Police, Akwa Ibom State Comand, Mr Sanni J. Magayi, has warned politicians to always seek police approval before holding political meetings.

Magayi who assumed duties recently gave the warning, Wednesday at a two-day workshop in Uyo organised by community policing partners towards 2011 successful and credible elections.

Represented at the workshop whose audience comprised all the stakeholders including security agencies, religious groups, civil societies, politicians and human rights activists, the police chief reminded the participants that the public order act was still in force.

HE disagreed with the workshop organiser who described the order as draconian, saying it is enforced in interest of the public to forestall chaos and anarchy.

Describing the workshop as both timely and a welcome development, the new police boss noted that no meaningful development can take place in the atmosphere of chaos.

He however, advised the politicians to stop over-heating the polity by playing the game by the rules. He also reminded them that policing was the responsibility of everybody but, however discouraged an attempt to arrest an armed fellow with bare arms.

According to him, whenever the public is faced with such a situation, the best option is to seek police assistance through proper information.

But he maintained that the success of 2011 election was a responsibility of all with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) playing the pivotal role.

The new  Police Commissioner (CP) assured that the police would do its best to re-enact the 1993 conduct adjudged best so far;

Presenting a paper on “securing the respect for voters, human rights during elections; INEC Perspective”, the resident electoral commissioner for Akwa Ibom State, Mrs Maria Owi maintained that effective monitoring of the voting process was crucial if voters’human rights were to be secured.

Represented, Mr Owi however said that securing the respect for voters’ human rights during election was a collective effort of all the stakeholders.

The representative of Nigerian Immigration Service highlighted steps being taken to fish out immigrant hoodlums who found their ways into the country through illegal routes, such as establishing of offices at every local government headquarters for their personnel.

He advocated increased funding and provision of working tools to enable police personnel optimise their service. On his part, the  National Orientation Agency (NOA) director who was represented, attributed failure of some of the government policies to lack of sensitisation.

According to him, if any election in Nigeria must succeed, INEC must stop aiding and abetting rigging.

The chairman of the occasion, Chief Anselem Eyo advised all the stakeholders to carry out their work honestly and not succumb to temptation of taking bribe.

Eyo who regretted that voters’ human right was not justifiable in law, advocated that chapter 2 of the constitution should be moved to chapter 4 to make voters’ human rights enforceable.

Earlier in his welcome address, the MD/CEO of community policing partners, Saviour Akpan  described the organisation as a catalyst seeking to bridge the gap of antagonism between communities and civil societies.

He thanked National Endowment for Democracy, Washington DC for partnering with them over the years to actualise this. He hoped through robust and unhindered discussions at the end the workshop would have achieved the purpose it was meant.

Eyo Akaiso – Uyo