The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara has cautioned President Muhammadu Buhari and national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole against call for extra-judicial killings, noting that there are adequate provisions in
our laws to address electoral offenses.
At the APC caucus meeting, President Buhari was reported to have said,”Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb the election, may be that would be the last unlawful action you would take. I have given the military and police the order to be ruthless. I
am going to warn anybody who thinks he would lead a body of thugs in his locality to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system; he woulddo it at the expense of his/her own life.’’
Oshiomole also claimed that the PDP was given prior notice of the postponement of the elections.
Addressing journalists at party presidential campaign headquarters, Maitama Abuja Monday Dogara said:”We categorically deny these false claims and unnecessary blackmail and regard the president’s statement as a call for extra-judicial killings considering the fact that there
are adequate provisions in our laws to address electoral offenses.
“These statements clearly indicate that our democracy has become the victim of a full blown dictatorship, when one considers that a democratically elected president would give a directive that is in clear violation of the laws of the land which by his oath of office he
is to defend and protect, he said.
“In view of this statement by the president, it is obvious that the military has been given a central role and co nopted into the conduct of the election despite the fact that they have no constitutional role in our electoral process.
“It should be noted that our party Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, was the first to call for an inquiry into why the elections were postponed last Saturday. In reality, we support a genuine and transparent probe into why the presidential and National Assembly elections could not
hold. We also hope that the president’s inflammatory statement is not a threat aimed at intimidating the electoral commission.’’
He described Oshiomole’s statement as false, mischievous and inflammatory claims against PDP adding: “This is a very surprising statement considering the fact that the federal government controls every institution and agency involved in the electoral process, including the CBN, Nigerian Air force, Aviation Authorities amongst others.’’
