Towards ensuring a peaceful conduct of the 2023 general elections in the country, the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has called on the Nigeria Police to engage politicians in the country on the need to play by the rules.

Abiodun, who made this call at the Cinema Hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, venue of a conference for senior police officers in the state, with the theme, ‘Creating the Enabling Environment for a Free, Fair and Credible 2023 General Elections in Ogun State’, equally emphasised that politicians needed to desist from hate speeches capable of heating up the political temperature of the state.

The governor, however, vowed that his administration would deal ruthlessly with any act of thuggery capable of causing insecurity in the state.

He disclosed that he had instructed the police in the state and the Department of State Security (DSS) to be on top of the situation.

“As we approach the 2023 general elections, let me enjoin the police authority in the state to continue to engage politicians on the need to play by the rules, politicians must be warned to desist from hate speeches capable of heating up the polity.

“We will deal ruthlessly with any act of thuggery, I have instructed the Commissioner of Police and the State Director of Security to be on top of the situation. Our state will not be known for thuggery, cultism and all these types of vices,” he said.

While calling on senior officers to come up with modalities and strategies to nip all forms of evil activities in the bud, the governor noted that the youth must be admonished on the need to avoid been used as political thugs.

On the recent fire incident by suspected hoodlums at the Abeokuta South office of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Abiodun said he had mandated the Commissioner of Police to ensure that those responsible for the incident were arrested and brought to book.