TheCable

The acting inspector-general of police, Mr Suleiman Abba, says politicians with criminal records will be stopped from contesting in  the 2015 general election.

His pronouncement is bound to generate controversy as the supreme court had ruled in 2007 that only a court of law can stop a candidate from contesting in an election.

Abba, at his maiden meeting with state commissioners of police and other senior officers in Abuja on Wednesday, said the force would collaborate with other security agencies to achieve the goal.

“During screening of candidates, we will collaborate with our colleagues, particularly the Department of State Service to ensure that candidates with criminal records are not allowed to contest the election,” he said.

The supreme court had ruled in the case between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that the indictment of the former vice-president by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) needed judicial backing to be effective.

Fielding questions from journalists before the meeting went into a closed door session,  Abba said the force was poised to provide adequate security for the elections.

“We have made adequate arrangements to make sure that the police provide sufficient security for all the activities leading to the election and election.

“These activities have started and they include the registration of voters, primaries, conventions and the campaigns by all the political parties and candidates.

“In all these activities, the police will ensure that adequate security is provided for those involved, including the INEC and party officials,” he said.

On the role of the police in the ongoing counter-terrorism, he said the force had not been relegated to the background but playing its role.

“The police who are in-charge of internal security cannot be relegated to the background though the military is present in all the states of the federation.

“They are performing their responsibility in support of the civil authority, the police.

“The states where they are more visible are the areas where their support is most needed,”, he said, and added that the police were more visible in internal security.

Abba said that one of 20 personnel said to be still missing in the attack on police vollege in Gwoza, resurfaced on Monday and gave an assurance  that others would soon be located.