Dogs and other pets are not permitted in Nigeria's polling stations before the gubernatorial elections on Sunday.
Nigeria held its presidential elections over a week ago, and some polling stations witnessed a series of violence, prompting some people to say they would bring their dogs to polling stations during the gubernatorial elections.
In a series of tweets by the Nigerian Police Force, they said that voters could not bring dogs to the stations and that doing that could be classified as "offensive weapons" and carrying them is punishable by law.
"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," police said.
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"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." Nigerian police force
last week, The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared bola tinubu of the APC party the winner in an election with a voter turnout of just 27 per cent, lower than the 2019 election. Over 90 million Nigerians were registered to vote, but only a quarter showed up.
The opposition has, however, rejected the election results, saying that there was massive rigging. Members of the opposition have called on the INEC to cancel the polls, calling it a sham. tinubu has called on the opposition to join hands and work with him.
