By Harry Awurumibe Editor Abuja Bureau
Respite has come to the people of Imo state as the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the immediate redeployment of the controversial Imo State Commissioner of Police (CP), Mohammed Barde, to the Force Headquarters in Abuja.
Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, announced this on Sunday.
This comes just six days to the governorship election on November 11 amid allegations of highhandedness and bias levelled against the Imo CP.
The statement said the IGP’s decision to redeploy the Imo CP underscored the Police Force’s dedication to upholding the rule of law and maintaining strict neutrality throughout the electoral proceedings.
Adejobi said, “This redeployment is not an indictment on the affected officer but is rather part of a broader strategy aimed at bolstering security measures, promoting transparency, and upholding the integrity of the electoral security management.
“The IG is resolute in ensuring that a secure environment is provided for all stakeholders, political parties, candidates, and citizens to participate in the electoral process. He urges all and sundry to cooperate with the Police and other security agencies and adhere to the law in order to ensure a smooth and successful election while maintaining the principles of democracy.”
Egbetokun, on Sunday evening, promised to redeploy Barde after the Nigerian Labour Congress, the Trade Union Congress, the Labour Party, and civil society organisations, called for his redeployment.
Egbetokun made the development known on Sunday night during a Channels Television programme themed “Peoples Town Hall On Election Security”.
Egbetokun said, “We are aware that there are allegations against the Commissioner of Police in Imo. Before the elections, we’re changing the CP. This is not to say the CP has been found guilty. But for neutrality sake, we are changing the Commissioner of Police in Imo State.”
Prompt News reports that President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, was on November 1 attacked by persons allegedly linked to the Governor of Imo state Hope Uzodimma whose goons led by one Chinasa Nwaneri, according to NLC was alleged to have had police protection.
Ajaero was attacked and brutalised while mobilising workers for a protest over their unpaid salaries.
This development lends credence to the loud and long standing outcry in Imo State where Barde as CP has been repeatedly accused of brazen partisanship and superintending over rogue policing, which manifested in the electoral violence, voter suppression and manipulations that characterised the recent presidential and state assembly elections in Imo state, which gave undue advantage to the ruling party.”
Recall some months ago, the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) and 21 other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Nigeria petitioned the Chairman of the Police Service Commission demanding investigation and redeployment of Imo State Commissioner of Police, Barde, over his partisanship in the state. READ ALSO:
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They stated that Barde had been described as a hatchet man for the Imo State governor, adding that some Police officers in Imo State Command.
Before then, Barde was in the eye of the storm for his role over a brazen ‘Partisan’ role in Adamawa Governorship Election as CSOs called on Police hierarchy to investigate the role of the CP in aiding and abetting the conduct/actions of the rogue Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Adamawa State, Barrister Hudu Yunusa-Ari, during the Adamawa governorship election.
