The Independent Election Monitoring Group on
Wednesday in Kaduna appealed to the Independent National Electoral
Commission to postpone the conduct of governorship and state houses of
assembly elections in the states where bloody violence erupted over the
results of the presidential poll.
The IEMG said that postponing the governorship and state legislature elections scheduled for Tuesday in the crisis-ridden states had become imperative in order to avoid further bloodshed.
While taking note of the destruction of lives and property that resulted from the post-election violence that rocked Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Niger, Katsina, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Bauchi, Taraba and Nasarawa states, the group urged INEC and relevant authorities to re-assess the conduct of the remaining elections in these states on an individual basis and where necessary, consider the postponement of polls in such states to avoid further breakdown of law and order.
The IEMG National Coordinator, Mr. Festus Okoye, however said in a statement that the current situation in those states was not conducive for the conduct of the remaining elections.
“So many people lost their lives and others lost their loved ones in the deadly riots.
“A large number of people have been displaced and are taking shelter in Police and army formations in the various states. So many people lost their homes and property during the period of the crisis. There are people still looking for their loved ones and cannot move on account of the curfew in some of the states,” he said.
The IEMG boss further argued that although there were some constitutional implications for the postponement of the polls as stated in Section 178 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which requires INEC to organize governorship elections not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of office of the last holder of that office, Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 gives the commission the power to postpone it if it had any reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace was likely to occur if it held on the appointed date.
“The IEMG is of the firm view that the conduct of election in some of the states that witnessed deadly riots may lead to serious breach of the peace. There are cogent and verifiable reasons to project that those that instigated the mayhem and those used during the mayhem may still regroup and unleash fresh violence on innocent citizens.
“Moreover, a large number of prospective voters are still holed up in military and police barracks and away from their polling units. Their main concern at the moment is their safety and they will be disenfranchised if the election goes on as planned on the 26th Day of April 2011.
“Elections and the electoral process are for the living and any election organised in a flux security environment with majority of people living in fear and or taking refuge in army and police formations cannot by any stretch of imagination be free, fair and transparent.
“We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to quickly consult with primary and secondary stakeholders in the electoral process and evaluate on a case by case basis the States where elections can successfully be held without further breach of the peace.” he said.
By Segun Olatunji Courtesy Of:: Punch
The IEMG said that postponing the governorship and state legislature elections scheduled for Tuesday in the crisis-ridden states had become imperative in order to avoid further bloodshed.
While taking note of the destruction of lives and property that resulted from the post-election violence that rocked Kaduna, Kano, Gombe, Niger, Katsina, Maiduguri, Sokoto, Bauchi, Taraba and Nasarawa states, the group urged INEC and relevant authorities to re-assess the conduct of the remaining elections in these states on an individual basis and where necessary, consider the postponement of polls in such states to avoid further breakdown of law and order.
The IEMG National Coordinator, Mr. Festus Okoye, however said in a statement that the current situation in those states was not conducive for the conduct of the remaining elections.
“So many people lost their lives and others lost their loved ones in the deadly riots.
“A large number of people have been displaced and are taking shelter in Police and army formations in the various states. So many people lost their homes and property during the period of the crisis. There are people still looking for their loved ones and cannot move on account of the curfew in some of the states,” he said.
The IEMG boss further argued that although there were some constitutional implications for the postponement of the polls as stated in Section 178 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) which requires INEC to organize governorship elections not earlier than 150 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the tenure of office of the last holder of that office, Section 26 of the Electoral Act, 2010 gives the commission the power to postpone it if it had any reason to believe that a serious breach of the peace was likely to occur if it held on the appointed date.
“The IEMG is of the firm view that the conduct of election in some of the states that witnessed deadly riots may lead to serious breach of the peace. There are cogent and verifiable reasons to project that those that instigated the mayhem and those used during the mayhem may still regroup and unleash fresh violence on innocent citizens.
“Moreover, a large number of prospective voters are still holed up in military and police barracks and away from their polling units. Their main concern at the moment is their safety and they will be disenfranchised if the election goes on as planned on the 26th Day of April 2011.
“Elections and the electoral process are for the living and any election organised in a flux security environment with majority of people living in fear and or taking refuge in army and police formations cannot by any stretch of imagination be free, fair and transparent.
“We urge the Independent National Electoral Commission to quickly consult with primary and secondary stakeholders in the electoral process and evaluate on a case by case basis the States where elections can successfully be held without further breach of the peace.” he said.
By Segun Olatunji Courtesy Of:: Punch
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