2023 elections: Police request campaign schedules of political parties

With the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections campaign formally starting on 28 September, the Oyo State Police command has asked political parties participating in the general elections to submit their campaign schedules.

According to the time table of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the campaign for governorship and state assembly elections kicks off on 12 October.

Following a meeting which the Oyo State, Commissioner of Police, Adebowale Williams held with leaders of various political parties, the Police Public Relations Officer for the command, Adewale Osifeso said the submission of campaign schedule would enable the police provide adequate security to each political party .

The development followed the allegations and counter allegations of violence between the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

The command urged contestants and their parties to shun any act that could truncate the peace being enjoyed in the state.

Osifeso enjoined “all the stakeholders to embrace peace and shun acts capable of truncating the relative peace and tranquility enjoyed by residents”.

Providing details of the meeting, the statement further stated: “While highlighting measures already emplaced towards the realisation of a hitch-free campaign period, the Commissioner of Police, advised the political parties participating in the general elections to submit details of their campaign schedules to include dates and routes for adequate security provisions.

“The CP also told the parties at the meeting that apart from regular patrols across the length and breadth of the state, intelligence led stop-and-search and technological-aided surveillance, the Oyo State Police Command has formed a special crowd control unit to cater to cases of crowd management before, during and after the campaigns.

“Parents, guardians and leaders wielding various degrees of influence have been asked to prevail on their children, wards and proteges so as to avoid being used as cannon fodders by agents of mischief to disrupt the polity, as heavy sanctions awaits violators in accordance with the laws and statues of the land.

” In cases of emergency, the command can always be reached through these emergency control room numbers: 615 (toll free) (Oyo State Security Trust Fund), and Oyo State Police Command emergency lines 07055495413 and 08081768614. The NPF rescue me app is also available for free download on both Android and Apple IOS, for Android and iPhone users respectively.”