CENTRE OF DEMOCRACY KICKS AGAINST USE OF MILITARY AT POLL

 The  Director of the Centre Idayat Hassan, at the press briefing, said “capital punishment” does not apply to electoral offences’, adding that, “the laws are quite clear, electoral offenders are either liable to two years imprisonment or N500,000 fine, nothing suggests shooting on sight as mentioned earlier by the President,” .

Penpushing further reports that, Hassan also expressed concern about voters’ apathy, noting that, “voters turnout since 1999 has been on a progressive decline, such that if we get a 45 per cent turnout in these elections, we would have really improved on what was obtainable during the 2015 elections.”

The Centre of Democracy and Development (CDD) also advised the police to stop redeploying their personnel to avoid sending the wrong signals, with voting just a few days away.

“In spite of these issues, our assessment based on Prof. Yakubu’s briefings as well as verified information from thousands of our observers on the field, we believe that the Electoral Commission is ready for Saturday’s vote,” she said.

“Nonetheless, there is a great deal of work to be done, including ensuring that issues concerning every aspect of logistics as well as the movement of materials and personnel from local government areas are completed without any further delay.”

Penpushing also reports that, the  centre  expressed worry over the retrieval and proper dissemination of electoral materials sent to wrong states, and in order to filter information, the centre  and its  Election Analysis Centre disclosed that they had deployed observers and experts to the field and also conducted focus group discussions and interviewed stakeholders

The Centre also pointed out that reports of Boko Haram attacks in Yobe State and Maiduguri, the capital of Borno state, received from observers and experts on the field were worrisome, adding that in same vein,its assessment, revealed that  ongoing armed banditry in Zamfara and reports of kidnappings in Shiroro and Raffi local government areas  of Niger State could affect deployment of officials for both observer groups and INEC.

“It is important and necessary to review security plans for volatile states such as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Zamfara states. It equally behooves the authorities responsible are careful and do not unduly deploy excessive security during polls that might frighten votes and depress voting numbers.”

Penpushing further reports that, the centre after its assessment of the readiness of the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC)for the elections, made some recommendations, which reads, “INEC must address the status of last week payment of ad-hoc staff to avoid staff shortage’

“It is essential and necessary to review security plans for volatile states such as Borno, Yobe, Adamawa and Zamfara States. While it matters that security is provided during the election, it is equally important that the authorities responsible are careful and do not unduly deploy excessive security during polls that might frighten votes and depress voting numbers.

“Police should refrain from re-deploying their personnel a few days into the elections. INEC and all relevant stakeholders must engage in voter mobilization to stave off apathy. INEC should increase its confidence-building measures particularly at the state levels.”

Penpushing also reports that, the centre called on the civil society organizations and the media to remain vigilant “and without partisanship observe all deployment processes, monitor all aspects of the polling from opening to the collation phases.”

The Centre of Democracy and Development (CDD) also called on the political stakeholders to “not just talk peace but make and walk peace’, and equally implored the youths to shun violence in the coming days.