The Nigeria Police Force has warned the electorate against taking pets to polling units on Saturday.
Muyiwa Adejobi, the police public relations officer, signed an official statement to this effect on Tuesday.
According to the police, voters might use pets such as dogs as weapons or tools of violence and intimidation.
“The Nigeria Police Force has deemed it necessary to educate and caution Nigerians on the use of pets, especially dogs, at the polling units on election day, as such act runs contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022,” the statement read in part.
“The provision of Section 126 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022 explains clearly those actions exhibited by electorates that constitute electoral breaches and are punishable under the law, and paragraph (f) mentions possession of weapons calculated to intimidate voters and electoral officers.
“Dogs could be classed as offensive weapons as their owners/handlers can use them to intimidate, harass and cause assault and bodily harm to others.
“The Dogs Act, CAP 55, Laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1958 as domesticated in various states and other criminal laws in Nigeria are trite. The conceived ideas and plans by certain individuals, electorates, and groups of people to go to the polls accompanied by pets are unacceptable, stand discouraged, and remain an act of electoral infraction as it will cause harassment and intimidation.
“The Nigeria Police Force, therefore, warns those who intend to display their pets, dogs specifically, for whatever purpose, at the polling units, to desist, as such constitutes a violation of the electoral Act 2022, as amended, and other extant laws.”
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The entire coverage of the presidential and national assembly elections held on February 25 did not reveal any form of violence from a pet. Human beings perpetrated the violence and intimidation recorded during the election.
Gubernatorial and house of assembly elections will be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) next Saturday.
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