How military can get involved in 2019 elections – CDD

The Election Analysis Centre (EAC) of the Centre of Democracy and Development (CDD) on Thursday said security operatives, especially the military, should not take part in elections except in states battling with insurgency.

The CDD Director and member, EAC, Idayat Hassan, the Chair EAC, Prof. Adele Jinadu and EAC member, Dr. Olajumoke Jacob-Haliso, at a joint press conference, said that with voters’ morale very low, especially after last week postponement, the presence of gun welding military men would further demoralize voters and lead to apathy.

They also advised the police to stop redeploying its personnel to avoid sending the wrong signals, with voting just a few days away.

According to Hassan, finding has revealed a progressive decline in voters’ turnout which would be further worsen due to the heavy military presence on Election Day apart from the ‘drums of war’ being beaten by various candidates in the Saturday polls.

“There is nothing like capital punishment for election offenders in our constitution. Even when they are tried in court, there is a punishment for it which does not excess two years or N500,000. Even when they are tried with the criminal code, there is nothing that suggests shoot at sight or capital punishment,” she said.

According to her, despite the claims by INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, there were still reports that there are some missing or misplaced sensitive materials.

She said that in several instances, materials meant for particular geopolitical zones are only now making their way to different geopolitical zones.

“There have also been mix-ups within geo-political zones. For example, some materials for the South West made its way to the South-South, North West to South West amongst several others. INEC must ensure that before Saturday all the missing or misplaced materials are rerouted to avoid shortfalls or any hitches,” she said.

On security, she said, “Police deployment has also been problematic. The deployments were announced on the 9th of February. Less than two weeks after the nationwide deployments, it is unfortunate to note that less than two weeks after these redeployments, the Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State, Bashir Makama, has been replaced by the Sokoto CP, Ibrahim Kaoje.

“Also, the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Balarabe Sule, previously deployed to Zamfara has been redeployed once again to Kano for the election. He replaced DCP Bukar Made-Up, who served for only one week. Sule was former chief security of officer to Mr Ganduje.”