Despite the Nigerian Police press releases to warned voters before Lagos Gubernatorial election against the use of pets, especially, dogs, at polling units on election day, saying such an act runs contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act 2022, as amended.
This followed reports that some electorate and groups planned to go to the polls on Saturday accompanied by their dogs as a form of protection against intimidation from political thugs and ballot box snatchers.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, revealed this in a statement obtained by our correspondent.
Adejobi noted that the provision of Section 126 (1) of the Electoral Act 2022, explains clearly those actions exhibited by the electorate that constitute electoral breaches and are punishable under the law, and paragraph (f) mentions the possession of weapons calculated to intimidate voters and electoral officers.
He said, “Dogs could be classified 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, electorate, 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 NPF, 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.”
According to the Renowned Nigerian Flutist and Former President of the Performing Musicians Association of Nigeria, Tee Mac Omatshola has revealed how he turned loose 8 of his rottweiler breed dogs to track down thugs who disrupted the voting process at Okota Ago palaceway.
Tee Mac speaking in an interview with Arise Tv alleged that he already got a first-hand information by a whistle-blower in the Camp that the thugs intend to attack Okota Ago because of the results in the last Presidential election. Although the police had ordered that dogs should not be brought to the polling units on Election Day, Tee Mac contended that he had to use his dogs as a security guards for the people in his area because the police didn’t fulfill their obligation.
He said, ”I got a phone call from a gentleman last week Wednesday, before the governorship election. He begged me to make sure that we have security in our area. He told me he attended a meeting in Mushin and thugs decided to attack Okota Ago palace. And this is because they were not pleased because 80/90% of that area went to Labour Party.
I was in my house after I voted on Election Day when I got a call that some thugs have attacked a polling unit on the next street. I was furious, I took two of my boys with me and I unleashed 8 of my Rottweilers dogs against the Thugs who attacked the voters at Okota. And that was how we got rid of them from that vicinity. I was told by a person that I violated the police law that says there should be no dogs on the election day. I said my dogs didn’t harm anybody, I brought them out to chase out the thugs. My dogs did what the police should have done.”
anybody, I brought them out to chase out the thugs. My dogs did what the police should have done.”
