THE Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, Mr. Hassan Karma, has enjoined political parties and their standard bearers to embrace the February 14 general elections with the spirit of sportsmanship devoid of crisis.

   Speaking at a stakeholders’ interactive session aimed at reaching a peace accord towards ensuring violent-free and credible elections in the state, Karma charged politicians to pursue their political ambitions within the bounds of the law and desist from invectives that could breed disaffection, bad blood and possible breakdown of law and order.

   The meeting entitled “Towards credible and non-violence elections” was attended by various heads of security agencies, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties and their standard bearers in the state.

   Karma said: “None of your ambitions should be greater than the peace and collective security of the people. We shall not hesitate to arrest and bring to book anyone who goes against the laws of the land and or who sponsors violence in any guise or form.”

   He also warned politicians against destroying billboards and instituting campaigns of calumny against their political opponents, just as he assured that the Police and the entire security community in the state was poised to ensure adequate electoral security, credibility of electoral process and impartiality of law enforcement officials.

   Mr. Michael Nwuleli, who represented INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, gave the assurance that the commission was working towards ensuring credible, free and fair elections in the country.

   Nwuleli further advised political parties to submit the names of their polling agents at least seven days before the election for onward production of tags to be used at the various polling booths.

   He further counseled all aggrieved political parties to seek redress at the court over alleged campaigns being carried out by candidates not listed by the commission for the elections.

   In their separate speeches, some of the candidates and representatives of political parties strongly raised concerns over issues of multiple candidates and destruction of billboards by the opposition parties.