A total of 600 gallant officers from the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have departed Uyo for Saturday’s off circle election in Osun State.

Addressing the officers at the State Police headquarters, Ikot Akpanabia, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, charged officers of the them to demonstrate the highest standard of professionalism, discipline, neutrality and respect for the rule of law throughout the assignment.

According to a Press Statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, the Commissioner reminded them that election duty is a sensitive national responsibility and that their conduct must reflect the integrity, discipline and professionalism expected of personnel of the Nigeria Police Force.

CP Azare warned the officers against partisanship, intimidation of voters, extortion, harassment, unnecessary use of force, incivility, abandonment of duty posts, consumption of alcohol while on duty, or any other act capable of bringing the Nigeria Police Force into disrepute.

He particularly cautioned the officers against violating the Inspector-General of Police’s Social Media Policy, stressing that officers must not post, livestream, share or circulate photographs, videos, comments or other materials relating to sensitive election operations in a manner inconsistent with the policy or capable of compromising operational security and the image of the Force.

The Commissioner further stressed that the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, psc(+), NPM, has made adequate arrangements for the transportation of all personnel deployed from Akwa Ibom State to Osun State and their return to the State after the election duty. He therefore warned that no officer is authorised or expected to pay for his or her transportation either to Osun State or back to Akwa Ibom State.

He directed all officers to travel strictly through the officially approved transportation arrangements and warned commanders and other personnel against collecting money from any officer under the guise of transportation or related movement expenses. He further directed that any attempt to demand or collect such money should be immediately reported through the appropriate channel.

“You are going to Osun State as representatives of the Nigeria Police Force and of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command. You must remain completely neutral and professional. Do not allow yourselves to be used by any political party, candidate or individual. The Inspector-General of Police has made adequate arrangements for your transportation to Osun State and back. No officer should pay for his or her movement.”

CP Azare further directed the officers to remain under the command and control of their designated commanders, observe the rules of engagement, protect voters, electoral officials and election materials, and ensure that their actions contribute to a peaceful, credible and violence-free electoral process.

He warned that any officer found engaging in misconduct, extortion, unauthorised collection of money or violation of lawful directives would be held personally accountable and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.

The Commissioner wished the officers a successful assignment and safe return to Akwa Ibom State, urging them to distinguish themselves through discipline, courage, neutrality and exemplary conduct.

Governor Umo Eno, Ph.D, has continued to receive congratulatory messages from stakeholders and supporters across the state over his nomination as the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate for Akwa Ibom State.

The latest is coming from the Chairman of Etinan Local Government Area, Hon (Dr) Uko Umoh, who described the nomination of the governor by APC members across the state as a bold statement of his acceptability by the people

Speaking shortly after being counted among party members, Hon Uko Umoh, said the support from the people is an endorsement of his policies and programmes which has better the lives of an average Akwa Ibom person in the last three years of his administration.

“We have seen the projects across the state, we have heard of the billions released to settle pensioners, we have seen empowerment where beneficiaries were chosen in a transparent and credible manner. What about the political unity in the state? What about giving the people the power to be part of the budget process by organizing a town hall meeting across the ten federal constituencies?

“The governor has followed his economic blueprint for the state as contained in the ARISE Agenda and I am very confident that by 2031, he will leave Akwa Ibom far better than he met it”

Hon Uko Umoh who in the company of the Political Leader of Etinan, Isantim Kenneth Okon, visited the country home of the governor in Nsit Ubuim after the nomination exercise, assured the governor of the continuous support of the people of Etinan to his administration and the APC where he is the leader.

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Rt Hon Samuel Ikon, Ph.D, says the large turn out of members to nominate Governor Umo Eno as the APC flag bearer for the 2027 general election is as a result of the numerous people oriented projects and programmes executed by his administration.

Rt. Hon.(Pastor) Samuel Ikon, Ph.D.

In a brief press interview shortly before the commencement of the nomination exercise at Mbioto Town School, Mbioto, the former speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly listed those projects to include building of compassionate homes for widows, providing food for vulnerable households under the bulk purchasing agency and empowerment of people

“In this crowd is someone the governor has built a house, we have people here who have benefitted from the free food of the bulk purchasing agency and the numerous empowerment both to farmers and traders either in cash or vocational equipment. In this nomination exercise, Governor Umo Eno does not need to mobilize anyone, it is a crowd made up of people who have benefitted from his administration”

The former Federal House of Representatives member described the governor’s performance as awesome stressing that, governor Umo Eno has through his programmes, projects and policies justified the resources accrued to the state in the past three years.

” You know as a lawmaker our interest is always what comes in as revenue and how well it has been uterlized.But I can tell you that under Governor Umo Eno, resources have been properly channeled to the benefit of the people.

A party member who identified himself as Aniekan commended Rt Hon Samuel Ikon for giving a well defined direction during the conduct of APC Primary elections in Southern Iman Ward IV.

” As you can see there is order throughout the exercise because our MP is on ground and there is joy everywhere” he opined.