As political parties in the state commence campaigns for different elected offices, the Bayelsa state police commissioner, Joseph Mukan has called on all political parties to shun violence and play by the rules during and after the electioneering campaign.

The police commissioner made the disclosure at the senior officers' meeting in Yenagoa after a stakeholders' meeting with political parties under the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC).

Fielding questions from newsmen, the Bayelsa police commissioner said the full wrath of the law will hold defaulting political parties. 

Also speaking, the state chairman of IPAC and some party chairmen lamented the absence of major political parties as they call for sustainable peace.

However, the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were conspicuously absent at the stakeholders meeting.

Report by Dele  Fasan