Election: Group raises alarm over militarisation of Niger Delta



As Nigerians prepare for the forthcoming governorship elections, a group, Coalition of Civil Organisations and Election Observers has raised the alarm over the militarisation of the Niger Delta, saying it is not within the constitutional powers of the military to superintend over the conduct of election.


Addressing press Thursday at a World Press conference in Abuja, the convener, Comrade Okpanachi Jacob, called on the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS), African Union and the United Nations to immediately prevail on President Nuhammadu Buhari, to cease the ongoing hostilities against the people of Niger Delta, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa and others presently under military hostage ahead of the Saturday’s election.


Okpanachi said, “Let it be stayed here again, that we reject in totality, the military siege on the Niger Delta states. The military should immediately restrict itself to the mandate of providing support for the Nigerian police, as required by the relevant laws and guidelines of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). 


“At no time has INEC demanded for military deployment in polling stations and collation centres, as the current military invasion clearly suggest. The sacrifices made by our people towards advancing democracy cannot be allowed to be desecrated by the desperation presently being witnessed.


“We have a duty to our country, to Nigerians and democracy, in ensuring that every elements that threatens our democratic growth are challenged and rejected as a matter of patriotism. We must not allow desperate politicians and their collaborators within the security agencies truncate this democracy. When we find ourselves under such circumstance such as it is presently being witnessed, appropriate action must be taken not to allow our democracy be derailed.”


The group lamented that the conduct of the military during the presidential election raises serious question on why such becomes necessary especially when the military have not only engaged in partisan activities, but has also lack of capacity of being impartial and competent to be involved in the conduct of a fair, free and credible elections.


He commended the conducts of the Nigeria police during the election but explained that the same can not be said about the military, as their conduct led to the death of over 30 people.


“We must remember that democracy becomes a sham if elections are carried out in am atmosphere of fear and intimidation, and when security agents who are hitherto expected to be impartial and neutral, become openly partisan, demonstrating lack of integrity and acting blatantly as agent of political parties,” he said.


One of the observers, and secretary to the coalition, Mr Olufemi Lawson, why answering questing from journalist affirmed that 10 local government in Akwa Ibom has been designated as flash points hence heavily militarised. 


“This is about election and not war, the military has no job in the collation centres, this is alarming as the electorates are scarred,” he said.


The group however called on Nigerians to desist from any form of electoral violence and support the Nigeria police in ensuring the sanctity of the elections on Saturday. 

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