The Coalition of United Political Parties has described alleged military interference in the governorship and House of Assembly elections in Rivers State as treasonable felony.
A statement issued by the coalition’s national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, in Abuja on Monday also described the actions of the military as an assault on democratic institutions.
Ugochinyere further accused the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, of nursing an agenda to return the country to military rule.
The coalition condemned President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress, for the violence unleashed on River State.
The statement read in part: “The Coalition of United Political Parties has reviewed the performance of the Nigerian military in the just-concluded governorship election in some parts of the country and has come to the conclusion that the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, is nursing a secret agenda to return the country to a military rule.
READ ALSO: Declare Rivers Governorship Results on Units, Wards Basis – Traditional Rulers
“We make bold to say that Buratai’s brazen use of armed soldiers to attack officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission and upturn electoral process were testing grounds for his plot to truncate Nigeria’s democracy.
“We hereby raise the alarm loud enough for all lovers of democracy to hear that an electoral war is looming in states like Rivers over the desperate moves by the Nigerian Army and the All Progressives Congress to announce fake governorship election results in Army Barracks in favour of an unknown and non-existence party called AAC.
“We condemn in unequivocal terms President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chief of Army Staff over this reckless overthrow of electoral process in Rivers State with the APC thugs and security agents.
“We hereby say without mincing words that the undemocratic activities of the military and other security agencies in Rivers State are tantamount to treasonable felony and should be viewed and treated that way.
“This is an assault on democratic institutions in the country and should be resisted and condemned by all lovers of democracy within and outside the country.”