2023: Amotekun, Ebube Agu not needed for election duties, IGP says

The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, on Thursday said the security outfit organized by the state governments, such as Amotekun and Ebube Agu won’t be allowed to perform any role during the 2023 general elections.

The IGP said the state-owned security outfits have no legal basis to function during next year’s polls.

Baba made the stand known at a conference for Strategic Police Managers, including officers from the ranks of commissioners and above.

He said such quasi-security outfits are not expected to be deployed for electioneering campaigns and other electoral processes.

IGP Baba urged the officers to ensure that their actions and decisions are in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, the 1999 constitution and the Nigeria Police Act 2020.

He charged the officers to be fair to all political parties in their engagement during the election season.

According to the IGP, “We are also expected to adopt a professional orientation that emphasises democratic values and respect for human rights and dignity.

“As critical actors in the electoral process, the credibility of the 2023 general elections will be measured by the extent to which we abide by professional and legal standards.

“It will also be measured by our decisions and actions as we interface with political parties in emplacing appropriate machineries to guarantee a peaceful electioneering campaign process.

“We must leave no citizen in doubt of our commitment to national peace and security, as well as our determination to advance the democratic and national security interests of the country,

“All quasi-security outfits that were established by the various state governments and local communities, operating under different nomenclatures, structures and orientations have no legal roles in the Electoral Act 2022.”

Following worsening insecurity in the country, many state governments established security outfits to tackle crimes and criminality. The South-West states established Amotekun while their South-East counterparts set up Ebube Agu.