The Sokoto State Police Command has warned political parties and their supporters against hate speech, violence, thuggery and character assassination as campaigns begin in the state.
The command also vowed to enforce law and order professionally and decisively against threats to public peace before, during and after the elections.
The Commissioner of Police, Hassan Hayatu Shaffa, spoke yesterday in Sokoto at an interactive session with chairmen of registered political parties in the state.
Shaffa said: ‘We will ensure an absolute and peaceful process before, during and after the general elections.’
He urged political parties to conduct their campaigns in line with electoral guidelines, warning that the police would not compromise on law and order.
The commissioner outlined a five-point template for policing the campaigns, stressing that parties must avoid insults and character assassination, focus on issues and campaign in line with their manifestos.
He also urged parties to take responsibility for their supporters and ensure that political activities do not degenerate into violence.
‘Political parties must be accountable and have control of their supporters to be peaceful during party activities,’ he said.
Shaffa said the Inspector-General of Police had consistently demanded professionalism from officers in maintaining public order, adding that the Sokoto Command would uphold the same standard.
Shaffa also warned thugs against destroying or defacing government infrastructure, as well as campaign materials belonging to opposition parties.
Chairmen and representatives of other parties also pledged commitment to peaceful campaigns, while raising concerns over the neutrality of security agencies, a level playing field and the avoidance of partisanship.
The police took note of the concerns.
No fewer than 17 political parties attended the meeting at the Sokoto State Police Command. They included the APC, NDC, AAC, PRP, LP, NNPP, APM, AP, BP, DLA, AC, ADA and AD, among others.
Meanwhile, thousands of youths and supporters of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Sokoto South Local Government Area staged a solidarity rally for the party’s 2027 governorship candidate, Mannir Muhammad Dan Iya.
The supporters, carrying placards, posters and banners, marched through major streets to the ADC state secretariat, chanting solidarity songs for Dan Iya.
The organisers described the event as a 10,000-person rally in support of his candidature.
Dan Iya, a former deputy governor, thanked the youths, women, party elders and other supporters for what he described as a strong demonstration of confidence in his ambition.
In a statement by his media aide, Aminu Abdullahi, he commended the participants for conducting the rally peacefully.
He said the orderly procession, which began from Lokoja Road and ended at the ADC state office, recorded no violence, injury or destruction of public property.
‘What excites me most is that not even a fly was harmed, and no public property was touched or destroyed,’ he said.
Dan Iya said the turnout demonstrated that the state’s youths were becoming more politically conscious and willing to participate in democracy without violence.