The APC Caucus meeting
The APC Caucus meeting
The Nigerian Army has reacted to a controversial statement issued by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday that all those planning to snatch ballot boxes may be carrying out their last illegal acts.

The comment is already generating heated debates in the polity with many saying the president’s statement is a veiled sanction to security operatives to kill (extrajudicially) those who run afoul of the electoral law.

The president made the statement at the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting on Monday.

A leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, has, however, defended the president saying President Muhammadu Buhari was ‘misinterpreted’.

The Electoral Act prescribes two years in jail, not death, for persons found guilty of snatching or destroying election materials.

Lawyers also argue that Section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution gives instances where ”one may forfeit his/her life as a result of certain scenarios”.

The Nigerian Army on Monday added another twist to the debate when it told PREMIUM TIMES it will obey ‘totally and effectively’ such order if it is given by Mr Buhari.

“If Commander-in-Chief has given order to the Nigerian Army to that effect, be rest assured that order will be totally and effectively obeyed without any ifs or buts,” Army spokesperson Sagir Musa told PREMIUM TIMES when reached for comments about whether the military would review its rules of engagement if Mr Buhari gave an order for shooting of ballot box snatchers.

The Nigerian Army had earlier said it would deploy personnel for the elections, but only on contingent bases on the outer perimeter of communities rather than near polling units.

The police did not immediately return requests for comments about how they would treat any controversial directive by the president.

What Buhari said
President Buhari on Monday afternoon ordered security forces to be ruthless against anyone caught snatching ballot boxes after citizens had voted.

”Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disturb the election, maybe that would be the last unlawful action you would take. I have given the military and police the order to be ruthless.

”I am going to warn anybody who thinks he would lead a body of thugs in his locality to snatch boxes or to disturb the voting system; he would do it at the expense of his/her own life,” the president said at a gathering of the ruling All Progressives Congress on Monday in Abuja.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/313713-nigerian-army-speaks-on-buharis-death-threat-against-ballot-snatchers.html

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Oh! These people think the President is joking?
Let them try to snatch ballot box and see.

Lemme park here.

the way zombies are masturbating all over this illegal command as if its only for the opposition. well they should know that we still have soldiers/ police that support the opposition. let the game begin... lots of soul will go down just by this command

Gmb

They have passed the message Shoot to kill.. Their agents are now mobilized to identify those to be shot....That's why it was televised Rigging has failed, so they want to scare away voters Their panic is evident....the coven of incompetence will be closed soon. Keep the faith

Wiked Wike and his boys, be warned.

People should understand the issue at hand. Innocent people that oppose the use of military to rig election could be killed, fake military could also kill people. Ballot box snatchers hardly do it in the presence of the military.

Buhari refused to sign the electoral act which prescribed penalties for all electoral offenders because he wanted to benefit from illegality. He is a hypocrite and is inciting Nigerians against themselves. A sitting President cannot encourage extrajudicial murder. He will be kicked out come 23rd February

Buhari says "the military and police should be ruthless" The ranting of a dying snake. Yet boko boys are killing our soldiers.

"My political ambition does not worth the blood of any
Nigerians" Former President Goodluck Jonathan
"Ballot box snatchers will pay with their lives" President
Muhammadu Buhari
....hmmmm, it's obvious Mr. Buhari values cows more than
human beings.

Better people. Belle just de sweet me.

Meanwhile, Sagir Musa is back.