Odita Sunday 
Police Week: FCT CP warns youths against ballot snatching, electoral violence
The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory, Ahmed Sanusi has warned youths and community leaders in Abuja against involvement in ballot snatching and other forms of electoral violence.
The CP gave the warning on Wednesday during a community engagement with residents and youths in the Lugbe area of Abuja as part of activities marking National Police Day.
Addressing them, the police chief cautioned that no political ambition was worth risking lives or destroying property, stressing that citizens must exercise their political rights peacefully.
“You don’t allow people to induce you to act in a manner that is unbecoming that will lead you to endanger your lives and also can ultimately lead to destruction of life and property. Whatever opposition, whatever political affiliation you may wish to belong to, it is your choice. It is your constitutional right,” he said.
Sanusi urged residents not to allow themselves to be used by political actors to disrupt elections, listing ballot box snatching, attacks on supporters of opposing parties, destruction of electoral materials and blocking access roads for election officials as acts capable of undermining the democratic process.
“Do not agree and do not allow yourselves or your children to follow the political gladiators that might want to induce you to engage in some act of political electoral violence like snatching of ballot boxes, like attacking other supporters because they are not with you, like destroying ballot papers and other ballot materials, and also blocking of roads for the electoral officers,” he said.
The CP added that the police would partner with the Independent National Electoral Commission to ensure elections in the FCT are peaceful and credible.
“So all we know is we are going to partner with you to ensure that whatever election happens should be hitch-free and should be conducted in a very peaceful manner to the benefit of everyone. Your candidate may win. Other person’s candidate may win. Whoever wins is his own turn. You wait for the next time,” he stated.
He expressed concern that youths are often used as political thugs, warning them against accepting inducements from politicians.
“In most cases, it is these youths that are being used as political brigands. They are being used as thugs. Don’t allow yourselves to be used. Whatever you have been given is only for that moment. After that time, you might not see those people that are giving you again,” he said.
The CP said the command would continue community engagements monthly or bimonthly to build trust and reduce electoral violence ahead of elections.
“Our expectation is that with what we have done so far, they will understand what it means to avoid electoral violence… Together we will make the society a safer place and build a better electoral process that will be credible and acceptable both nationally and internationally,” he added.
The PUNCH reports that the presidential election will hold on January 16, 2027, while governorship elections are scheduled for February 6.
The electoral body had earlier fixed the presidential poll for February 20 and the gubernatorial elections for March 6, but the timetable attracted criticism after it coincided with the Ramadan period which prompted INEC to review the date.
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