The All Progressives Congress has written President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Attahiru Jega, to ensure that the judgments barring the involvement of soldiers in elections is complied with in the forthcoming polls.
The letter, dated February 16, 2015, was addressed to Jega, but was copied to President Jonathan, the National Security Adviser, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff and the National Chairmen of the APC and the Peoples Democratic Party.
Director, Legal, the APC Presidential Campaign Council, Chukwuma-Machukwu Ume (SAN), who authored the letter on behalf of the party, said with the recent court decisions, Armed Forces personnel should not be deployed to provide security during elections again.
The party was referring to a judgment delivered on January 29, 2015 by Justice R.M. Aikawa of the Federal High Court, Sokoto and another by the Court of Appeal, Abuja, on February 16, 2015.
APC in its letter, in which it profusely quoted parts of the court judgments, said it acknowledged the INEC’s “frustrations at the illegal imposition of armed forces personnel into a purely civil election process.”
The party’s letter wrote in part, “I am sure all well-meaning Nigerians share your deep seated concern on the militarisation of our elections.
“It is therefore imperative your good office and commission ensure, henceforth, and until there is an enabling Act of the National Assembly, the court orders are obeyed and armed forces personnel are never again deployed in any form of security supervision of our elections.”
Justice Aikawa of the Federal High Court in his judgment on the suit marked: FHC/S/CS/29/2014 among others, restrained the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and INEC “from engaging the service of the Nigerian armed forces in the security supervision of elections in any manner whatsoever in any part of Nigeria, without the Act of the National Assembly.”
Justice Abdul Aboki, in his lead judgment in the Ekiti State Governorship Election appeal on February 16, held that “even the President of Nigeria has no powers to call on the Nigerian armed forces and to unleash them on peaceful citizens, who are exercising their franchise to elect their leaders.
“Whoever unleashed soldiers on Ekiti State, disturbed the peace of the election on June 21, 2014; acted in flagrant breach of the constitution and flouted the provisions of the Electoral Act, which required an enabling environment by civil authorities in the conduct of elections.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
Advertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
Law people, don't you know that your presidential aspirant lied on oat and he has not convinced us about his certificate?? Is it also legal or illegal? Even if he wins which is not possible, he will not be qualified to be our president.
ReplyDeleteWhat does APC have against the army's involvement in elections? Are they afraid that some agencies are.there to challenge ballot box snatching?
ReplyDeleteI am yet to know how army deployment translate to rigging. We know most of the parties use hoodlums even to remove opponent's posters. Can we trust the police to secure voters and election materials?
yes we have something against the army!!!! your GEJ's corruption have transformed them to hoodlums and it is against the constitution to use hoodlums to conduct elections in Nigeria..
DeleteAnd y cant we trust d police anymore in a democratic setting....my people,dem don come again ooo,pls u guys shuld shine ur eyes...
ReplyDeleteIn using soldiers in election, PDP is planning to rig the election. Using soldiers in Ekiti election was not civil. Let the Police check civil disobedience. Soldiers are for war.
ReplyDelete