Transparency Expresses Fears Over Militarisation Of 2019 Elections

Transparency International [TI], on Wednesday, raised fears over the militarisation of the 2019 general elections by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.

The organisation advised that the action should be dropped to enhance the credibility of the electoral process.

TI said concerns were based largely on the roles played by various security personnel in the off-cycle elections held in 2018.

It also lamented the desperation shown by some politicians to be elected by all means.

The Programme Manager of Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, [CISLAC (an intermediary of TI in Nigeria)], Mr. Salaudeen Hashim and Executive Director, Musa Auwal Rafsanjani, raised these fears.

The TI officials spoke during the public presentation of a preliminary report and research on “Involvement of Nigerian security services in the electoral process: Guardian or threat to democracy.”

The researchers said the report would be transmitted to every stakeholder involved in the electoral process in Nigeria.

They said: “Overall, it will compromise their professional credibility and deepen partisanship within their ranks.

“The excessive spending on funding security services for electoral duty deprives the country of resources that could better be invested in providing infrastructure in the critical sectors such as health and education.

“The solution to the involvement of the Nigerian Armed forces and other para-military/security services, beyond the Police, in electoral processes is to stop it without further delay.

“Instances of pre-election tension do not always translate to crisis on election day. For this reason, use of para-military organizations and security services, beyond the Police, in the electoral process is unnecessary.

“Elections should be treated as any ordinary exercise Nigerians engage with and efforts made to de-prioritize it above other civic activities.

“In principle, the responsibility of providing security and safety should be a daily priority that should not be given any undue attention during elections,” they stated.

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook