National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Uche Secondus, has called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) sitting in The Hague, Netherlands, to immediately arrest and prosecute the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, for issuing death threats to foreigners ahead of the forthcoming general election.
The death threats, Secondus insisted, is meant to intimidate foreign observers and rig the forthcoming poll.
The ICC is a court of last resort for the prosecution of serious international crimes including genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
Speaking on Friday at the PDP Presidential Campaign Rally in Benue State, the PDP National Chairman warned of grave consequences if the forthcoming election is rigged.
He also kicked against plans to militarise the state during the election.
He said: “You are aware that the Governor of Kaduna State has said that people will be killed and carried in body bags. And we must stand because they cannot kill us. The international community is aware. And we call on the Federal Government headed by Buhari to set up an inquiry. If he refuses, then the International Criminal Court should arrest El-Rufai immediately for saying that international community and PDP will be carried by body bags. They are not ready for election. They know that Atiku is winning.
“And so, we call on INEC and security agencies, don’t rig the election here in Benue State. We were told that Akume was inviting military. This is not a military regime, this is democracy. Anyone that will send soldiers to Akume is against democracy. And we will reject such rigged results either in Benue or at the national level, we will never accept any rigged results”.
The gathering observed a minute silence for those killed in the state due to herders-farmers clashes.
Featuring on Tuesday Live – a live television programme on the Nigerian Tuesday Authority (NTA), El-Rufai had launched attacks against the opposition and the international community.
“Those that are calling for anyone to come and intervene in Nigeria, we are waiting for the person that would come and intervene, they would go back in body bags,” the APC governor had said.
The statement has since drawn condemnations from both local observers and the international community.
On his part, Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom said the state has not benefitted anything from the Buhari-led administration in the last three years.
Addressing the supporters, PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, promised to restore security in the area as well as develop agricultural processing industries.
“Problem number one in Benue is security. Everyone who knows me, know that I stand for the rule of law and I defend every law whether it is a federal law, state law or local government law. Because when you don’t defend the rule of law, you are inviting chaos and if there is insecurity we are not going to prosper, we are not going to progress. Every human endeavour requires security.
“I assure you that when you vote for PDP, when you vote for Ortom, you vote for Atiku, then you can be sure we will work together and bring back security, in North central and in the whole of Nigeria,” he said.
Other personalities who called on voters to vote massively for all PDP candidates include: immediate past Senate President, David Mark; former Senate President, Iyorcha Ayu; former Interior Minister, Abba Moro and ex-Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
