The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Dankwara, has warned political parties and their candidates that 2023 elections should not be a do-or-die affair.
Dankwara, who gave the warning during the signing of peace accord in Benin, said the police would not allow anybody to truncate the peace in the state on account of election.
According to him, politicians should play by the rule as anyone who crosses the line would be dealt with no matter how highly placed the person is in the state.
“Election is not a do-or-die affair, we should always put it at the back of our mind that whoever wins the election is part of us and that Nigeria must continue to exist.
“The political parties control their aspirants, we invite them for this peace accord to hear the dos and dont’s of the election and whoever that crosses the line we would go after them no matter how highly the person is.
“For a very long time now we have been enjoying peace in Edo state, so we should not allow anyone to use us to cause crisis. Anybody who want to truncate the peace and cause breakdown of law and order would be seriously dealt with”.
He said the essence of the meeting was to enable the political parties sign peace accord, adding that he is optimistic that the election would peaceful in the state job.
A representative of the All Progressives Congress, Aslem Ojezua, speaking to journalists, said no serious political party would want to function in an election that is fraught with violence or mischief.
“We usually encourage our members to sell their candidates, tell the people what they can do and let them be the judge,” he said.
He charged political parties and their candidates to abide by the rules of engagement because opponent in an election is not necessarily an enemy.
