Mohammed Barde, the Commissioner of Police in Imo State, has been redeployed, according to an announcement by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun.
“I am aware that there have been allegations on social media against the Commissioner of Police in Imo State but for this election, we are changing the commissioner of police in Imo,” the IGP said on Sunday on Channels Television’s People’s Townhall on Election Security.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress, two major organizations in organized labor, expressed their displeasure by charging Olanrewaju with involvement in the recent attack on NLC President Joe Ajaero in the Imo State capital of Owerri last week.
In addition to blaming Governor Hope Uzodimma, who is up for reelection, for the attack on Ajaero, Organized Labor had given the Federal Government a five-day ultimatum to replace the police commissioner. However, the governor has since stated that he had no involvement in the attack on the labor leader.
In addition, the IGP stated that all threats in the states of Imo, Kogi, and Bayelsa have been neutralized by the police in advance of the elections on November 11.
He claims that periodic arm sweeps will take place prior to, during, and following the votes.
According to Egbetokun, the police will adhere to the electoral laws and take appropriate action in response to vote buying and other electoral offenses. He said that anyone caught purchasing votes will face the proper legal action, and that police officers’ allowances would be paid on time.