The Nigeria Police Force has prohibited the use of pets, particularly dogs, at polling ahead of Saturday’s governorship and state assembly elections citing that doing so “runs contrary to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, as amended.”
Pets like dogs are offensive weapons, according to the police, who said in a statement released on Tuesday by the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, that taking them to polling places on election day is against the Election Act, 2022, as amended.
The statement reads, “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 Police therefore issued a warning to anyone planning to flaunt their pets, notably dogs, at the polling places for whatever reason, warning them to “desist as such constitutes a violation of the electoral Act, 2022, as amended, and other extant laws.”
