The US NIGERIA LAW GROUP on special election mission in Nigeria said they observed efforts to compromise the elections in Benue State on Saturday.
Nigerians went to the polls to a President and National Assembly members who will run the affairs of the nation for the next four years.
Highlighting some of their observations during the election assessment, the group named bribing of Ad-hoc poll officials and excessive military deployment to Benue State as parts of negative aspects of Saturday’s outing.
The group also condemned President Buhari’s order to the military to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers saying that was tantamount to declaration of martial law.
The group in a report signed by Emmanuel Ogebe said their findings indicate that hundreds of poll officials were trained for the elections but out of a list of about 500 names submitted by a federal institution to INEC as poll officials, a ruling party Senator selected those whom he deemed he could “work with”.
“In addition the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator doled out millions of naira which was distributed to the INEC-trained poll officials at a location in Makurdi the Benue State Capital,” he said.
Ogebe also said they observed that none of the Local partners in Civil Society Organizations said in Benue State were accredited for poll observation.
“Ironically their counterparts from other states were deployed to Benue to observe but because of their unfamiliarity with the terrain still had to rely on their Benue CSO colleagues to find their way around creating avoidable redundancies.”
The group also said they observed wrong deployment of poll officers and unsolicited campaign call to which an 80 year old woman described as an invasion of her privacy.
“We are gravely concerned at the brazen militarization of these elections. While monetization of the elections has been the norm and a bane, militarization under Gen. Buhari is at its peak.
“We should by all means try to keep armed personnel and military from being a part and parcel of the electoral process.
“The state is obligated to confine the military to their very demanding assignment, especially in this time of insurgencies by keeping them out of elections. The state is also obligated to ensure that citizens exercise their franchise freely and unmolested.”
Reacting to the president’s order, the group warned the Military personnel that by the principles and precedents of the Nuremberg trials no one was obliged to obey unlawful and inhuman orders. Obeying “superior orders” is not a defence for crimes against humanity.
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“Similarly this statement should be seen in the context of voter suppression after the initial election postponement. This amounts to threat and intimidation to discourage voter turnout”
The group further condemned reports of continuing violent reports and massacre in Agatu and other parts of Benue State.
“We are concerned that these attacks like many in the Middle Belt have served the purpose of displacing voters in opposition strongholds thus disenfranchising them. It is unclear if this is the case in Agatu right now.
“We note that the government is sending 7000 security forces to Benue State for elections when it never did so despite monthly massacres that killed thousands of indigenes. Benue which Gen. Buhari won in 2015 is believed to be lost because of these continuing killings.”
The group warned those involved in the bribery scheme in Benue State elections, particularly, the professors and academics to beware.
“We are aware they have been compromised. We urge them to voluntarily report and return the monies paid to them. Should they choose to fulfil the election rigging scheme, we will have them blacklisted from conducting academic research outside the shores of Nigeria.
“We are sharing this report for the benefit of the electorate and the international community for the sake of democracy. As people who have fought for, been imprisoned/tortured and defended our democracy going back a quarter century, this is our continuing duty.
“We urge Nigerians to stay the course and finish the race even if we are unable to stand with you physically. Democracy is a process not an event and it continues this weekend until we get it right.”
