COMMITTEE FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLES MANDATE (CPPM)

10, Afolabi Lesi Street, Ilupeju, Lagos

Telephone: 08023172694, 07033853232

Email: cppmandate@gmail.com

26/03/2015.

STATE OF THE NATION



No to Militarization of the 2015 General Elections



Being the text of a World Press Conference addressed by the Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) as a prelude to the 2015 General Elections of Saturday March 28th and Saturday April 11th 2015 in Lagos.



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, Compatriots and Esteemed guests, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to this august occasion meant to examine some disturbing developments which have to be put in proper perspective in order to understand the impediments to the conduct of a free, fair, transparent and credible 2015 General Elections in about 48 hours from now.



It is an indisputable fact that democracy as system of government is anchored on the principle of strict observance of the rule of law in the conduct of affairs between the government and the governed. Therefore, it is with this perspective in mind that we want to address threats to the peaceful and orderly conduct of a credible 2015 general elections.

· No to Militarization of the democratic space before, during and after the elections

We have watched with deep concern the recent irresponsible, unconstitutional, provocative, inciting and undemocratic movement of military personnel and hardware across states in the country solely as a show of force meant to intimidate voters ahead of the election, which is a negation of the principle of democracy which emphasizes that voters must not be intimidated or induced in exercising their franchise fairly and freely in a transparent and credible exercise. One would naturally expect a responsible government and military to be fully mobilized and concentrated on the ongoing war against insurgency in the North East based on the fact, that this was the lie of an excuse used to arm twist and blackmail INEC treasonably to reschedule elections by the service chiefs. We regard this unlawful and intimidating tactics by the federal government through open display of military show of force in peace zones and on the eve of the 2015 general elections as the height of irresponsibility and an assault on the democratic rights of Nigerians which must be condemned. Therefore, we want it placed on notice that President Goodluck Jonathan as the commander in chief of the armed forces should be held responsible for this provocation and unwarranted assault on the democratic rights of Nigerians which is totally unacceptable.

· No to Deployment of Military for 2015 General elections

We remain steadfast and resolute in obeisance to the constitution and with the Nigerian people in insisting that the rule of law and the constitution must be obeyed with regards to the deployment of the military for security duties on Election Day. The 1999 constitution is very much explicit and unambiguous is stating that the military is constitutionally responsible for the protection of our territorial integrity and this much was only recently emphasized by the Court of Appeal which ruled that it is unconstitutional to deploy the military for election duties which is a purely civil matter. Therefore, it is our fervent admonition that President Jonathan will depart from his culture of lawlessness and impunity to obey the constitution despite facts on the ground pointing to the contrary.

· Conduct of Security Agents Deployed for Electoral Duties

We call on the Inspector General of Police and the heads of security agencies to ensure the deployment of only well trained, civil and vigilant personnel who must be alert to their constitutional responsibility of maintaining safety, law and order at the polls. We demand that all security personnel to be deployed for the polls are well kitted in their official uniform with name tags for proper identification. We must warn that it is unconstitutional and a violation of the Electoral Act for security personnel with firearms and no means of identification to be found at the polling units, collation centres and other designated points.

· Conduct of the Electorate

We call on the electorates to troop out enmasse on Election Day in a peaceful and orderly manner with their legitimate Permanent Voters Card (PVC) to accredit, vote and remain at the polling units for votes to be counted and results publicly announced by the polling officer. At the end of the accreditation exercise, voters must ensure that the numbers of accredited voters are publicly announced before election commences in order to curb electoral irregularities. The electorates are hereby enjoined to perform their civic responsibility with an eye on history by voting for candidates of their choice in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation and without ethnic, religious and other primordial sentiments. The electorate must realize that the security and sanctity of this election is a collective responsibility, therefore, they must be security conscious to complement the roles of the security agencies by remaining at the polling units and other designated election points from the beginning till after the conclusion of the exercise.

· Conduct of INEC

The Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate (CPPM) wholeheartedly commends INEC for its tireless and innovative efforts in enhancing the credibility of the democratic system through the introduction of PVC and E-card reader despite the challenges and campaign of calumny against its leadership by anti democratic elements. We are happy to note that despite all the hiccups, INEC has been able to achieve 82% PVC distribution nationwide which in any exercise is an excellent mark and deserves commendation. As we go to the polls on Saturday March 28th, 2015 in the first phase of the general elections, we want to admonish INEC to ensure that its personnel and materials are adequately and timely deployed to polling units across the country for a free, fair, transparent and credible exercise. We equally want to counsel that INEC must ensure that all election results are publicly announced at the polling units before onward transfer to the wards, local governments and states collation centres.

· Political parties and Candidates

We want to enjoin the political parties and their candidates to play the game by the rules and shun all forms of violence by educating and sensitizing their supporters on the need for peaceful conduct during and after the polls in the larger interest of our democracy and country. They must encourage their supporters to conduct themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner at the polls by obeying the provisions of the electoral act to the letter and refrain from any act of electoral malpractice and brigandage. The parties agents must also be admonished on the need for civil conduct and not be overzealous to cause crisis at the polling units. Elections will come and go, but Nigeria will remain.

· Threats of Violence

We condemn in strong terms, threats of violence and violence unleashed on innocent Nigerians by political thugs and miscreants in the build up to the 2015 general elections and call on the security agencies to rise up to their constitutional responsibility of protecting life and property. We equally condemn the acts of criminality and brigandage unleashed on hapless Lagosians on March 16th, 2015 by an outlaw group, OPC with the funding and support of the Federal government through the award of oil pipeline protection contract and call on the security agencies to immediately place this group and other outlaw organizations under surveillance in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order before, during and after the elections.



Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished patriots, the signs are ominous of the untiring but bound to fail efforts of anti democratic elements and agents of darkness to truncate our democracy by compromising the 2015 general elections, but as we begin the countdown to the D-day, it behooves on us all as stakeholders to be extra vigilant because the walk to freedom is a long walk and we must play our patriotic part of owning the process through strict monitoring, sensitization and dissemination of information at every step of the journey.



However, we must publicly admonish the Nigerian people to be on red alert to legitimately resist any attempt by anti democratic elements and agents of evil to truncate our democracy through the installation of an unconstitutional and illegal interim government or the execution of a coup d’état as being planned. Anything short of the installation on May 29th 2015 of a democratically elected government by the Nigerian people via the exercise of their franchise on March 28th and April 11th 2015 will be met with stiff resistance as expressed in the people’s power.



Like we say, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty because as we make our bed, so shall we lie on it and here is wishing Nigerians, a peaceful, free, fair, transparent and credible 2015 General Elections.



Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.



Long live Democracy.



Thanks.



Yours Sincerely,



Signed,



Nelson Ekujumi

Executive Chairman

He is on his own