• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Over 260 Nigerians killed since October 2018 – Situation Room

Over 260 Nigerians killed since October 2018 – Situation Room
The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has revealed that over 260 Nigerians have been killed since the commencement of political campaigns in October 2018, ahead of the rescheduled general elections on Saturday.
This is even as it reminded the Independent National Electoral Commission that Nigerians will not accept staggered election.
According to the coalition, the rise in  politically motivated killings in the country is compounded by President Muhammadu Buhari’s recent directives to the military and police to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers.
The coalition is made up of over 70 civil society organisations in Nigeria.
Convener of the coalition and Executive Director, Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre, Clement Nwankwo, stated this at a press conference in Abuja on Friday.
Citing Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended), Nwankwo said soldiers have no direct involment in elections.
He warned that any security personnel who carry out extra-judicial killings would be held accountable under international law.
He said: “Situation Room is concerned about the invitations issued for the interrogation of lNEC officials, even if those invitations were later withdrawn. The optics of the invitations does not bode well for the independence of lNEC, and may amount to undue pressure.
“Situation Room is also concerned about statements emanating from various political parties that aim to undermine the credibility of lNEC and thus infringe on its constitutionally guaranteed independence.
“It is noteworthy that Section 129(4) of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) already stipulates a 24-month imprisonment term for the offence of ballot box snatching and the Act prescribes various punishment for all range of electoral offences”.
While expressing concern over the delivery of election materials to wrong locations ahead of the rescheduled polls, he cautioned that staggered elections would not only be ‘divisive and explosive’ but would also undermine the credibility of the exercise.
“We expect lNEC to conduct all elections across the country simultaneously and in a very organised manner devoid of the logistics challenges that have characterised elections in the past. This is the minimum expectation from Nigerians,” he said.
He also charged Nigerians to defy the challenges and difficulties occasioned by the last postponement and come out en masse to exercise their franchise. He further urged them to protect their votes.