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Senate on Wednesday boils over alleged militarisation of the just concluded 2019 general elections.

This followed the consideration of a motion on militarisation of Nigeria electoral process sponsored by Senator Dino Melaye and seven others.

Rowdy Session As Senate Debates ‘Militarisation Of Elections’ In Nigeria


Amidst rowdiness, the Senate on Wednesday passed resolutions to check the roles of the military in the 2019 elections and “inconsistent application of electoral laws” by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The deliberations leading to the adoption of four resolutions supporting the motion were marred by rowdiness as senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC) openly showed dissent to the debate.

The motion on the militarisation of the electoral process and alleged double standard of INEC was presented by Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi West).

Mr Melaye prayed his colleagues to look into the matter to forestall future occurrences.

“The Senate is conscious of the need to grow our nascent democracy through the institutionalisation of procedures, application of civil laws and the restriction of excessive use of military force in the civil affairs of the state,” said Mr Melaye.

“The Senate is aware of the growing militarisation of our nations electoral process, and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by the institutional umpire, the lNEC, especially as witnessed in the recent national election 2019, where the pretence of the use of extreme military force akin to a war campaign was applied in electoral polling stations, and the declaration of ’inconclusive elections’, as a term – being used inconsistently, and partially at the whims of electoral officers in occasions that appear solidly as similar cases;

“The Senate is concerned that this extreme militarization of a democratic electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC matters of national elections pose serious threats to our democracy, and has security implications that must be nipped in the bud;

“The Senate is persuaded that the nation is on the edge of a precipice, and our democracy can be saved for future posterity if only we can build strong institutions that can operate within established laws, and with our military forces restricted to their traditional roles of defending the nation.”

Giving a further explanation on the motion, Mr Melaye bemoaned the number of deaths recorded during the conduct of the election and the high-handedness of the military.

“In the midst of all these, it is pathetic that there is no presidential broadcast or statement from the leader of this country. This is a national calamity,” he said.

The leader of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan (APC, Yobe North), said elections in Nigeria are still works-in-progress that require attention at all times. He urged the Senate to review the election and see where legislative action is required rather than taking the whole issue in whole.

He was swiftly counter by the Minority Leader, Biodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti South).

“Whoever is siding with what went wrong in the elections is unfair to Nigerians. That election is a sham. There was no way that election could have been an advancement of the 2015 election.

“Everything was inconsistent; INEC was inconsistent. The parameters they used were different in states and units. That is wrong,” she said.

Her comments, however, incurred the anger of opposition senators who shouted on top of their voices. The Senate was soon plunged into rowdiness.

The rowdiness continued even after another speaker, Mao Ohabunwa (PDP, Abia North), had been recognised to speak (on) the consideration of prayers.

Adopting the four prayers of the motion, the Senate condemned the ‘massive use of military forces in the national electoral process of the nation’ and urged INEC to ensure the unrestricted and consistent application of all electoral laws without bias to a candidate or a party in all elections.

The Senate also urged the president, Muhammadu Buhari, to give ‘assent to the recent Amendment to the Electoral Act to ensure a level playing field and adoption of equal standards in our national elections for a strong and peaceful democracy in Nigeria.’

The Senate Committee on lNEC was also mandated to investigate all perceived inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in the 2019 Elections


https://www.independent.ng/rowdy-session-as-senate-debates-militarisation-of-elections-in-nigeria/

Details shortly…


http://thenationonlineng.net/senate-boils-over-alleged-militarisation-of-2019-general-elections/



Lalasticlala

Am tired of this 8th assembly under the leadership of saraki. militarisation ko, civil war ni.

the last breathe of a dying horse... you all will leave soon

APC is not a cult group and I advise it's members to be rational when handling national issues.

A good decision.

Buhari should sign the revised electoral bill into law as it will help eliminate inconsistent applications.

Cc lalasticlala


That's why military have been compromised to do the bidding of government in power

NO HOPE FOR NIGERIA...
Professors without discovery, Politicians without ideology, Wealth without prosperity, Religion without piety, Leaders without vision, The oppressed without worries, Courts without justice, Criminals without fears, History without glory, Heroes without honor, Schools without learning, Artists without taste, Intellectuals without thought, Terrorists without identity, Appointees without life, Hunger without famine, Change without progress, Next level without foundation, Democracy without citizens, Unity without love, Heroes without sacrifice, Policies without plans, Crime without culprits, Saints without humility, Integrity without performance, Wars without enemies, Billionaires without business, Youth without dreams, Elders without wisdom.

BuhariLooter:
NO HOPE FOR NIGERIA...

Professors without discovery,
Politicians without ideology,
Wealth without prosperity,
Religion without piety,
Leaders without vision,
The oppressed without worries,
Courts without justice,
Criminals without fears,
History without glory,
Heroes without honor,
Schools without learning,
Artists without taste,
Intellectuals without thought,
Terrorists without identity,
Appointees without life,
Hunger without famine,
Change without progress,
Next level without foundation,
Democracy without citizens,
Unity without love,
Heroes without sacrifice,
Policies without plans,
Crime without culprits,
Saints without humility,
Integrity without performance,
Wars without enemies,
Billionaires without business,
Youth without dreams,
Elders without wisdom.

Nigeria will arise

Senators Almost Exchange Blows Over 'Extreme' Military Involvement In 2019 Elections

“This extreme militarization of a democratic electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in matters of national elections pose serious threats to our democracy, and has serious implications that must be nipped in the bud."

It was a chaotic session at the plenary of the Senate on Wednesday during deliberations on allegations that there was use of “extreme military force” during the 2019 elections.

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West in the National Assembly, had raised a motion alleging the militarisation of the elections, as well as the “inconsistent application of electoral laws by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)”.

Seven other lawmakers — senators Mao Ohabunwa (Abia North), Samuel Anyanwu (Imo East), Ahmed Ogembe (Kogi Central), Obinna Ogba (Ebonyi Central), Matthew Uroghide (Edo South), Clifford Ordia (Edo Central) Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti South) — supported the motion.

According to the motion, the lawmakers expressed concerns that “this extreme militarization of a democratic electoral process and the inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in matters of national elections pose serious threats to our democracy, and has serious implications that must be nipped in the bud”.

Tempers flayed during the debate as the senators, based on their party loyalties, shouted at one another and almost came to exchanging blows, but for the intervention of Senate President Bukola Saraki.
“Those contributing must restrict themselves to the prayers in the motion,” he said.

After much deliberations on the issue, the Senate resolved to “condemn the massive use of military forces in the national electoral process of the nation; urge INEC to ensure the unrestricted and consistent application of all electoral laws without bias to a candidate or a party in all elections; direct the Senate Committee on INEC to investigate all perceived inconsistent application of electoral laws by INEC in 2019 elections".

They also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to “give assent to the recent Amendment to the Electoral Act to ensure a level playing field and adoption of equal standards in national elections for a strong and peaceful democracy in Nigeria”.

http://saharareporters.com/2019/03/20/senators-almost-exchange-blows-over-extreme-military-involvement-2019-elections

rabbish