Snatchers

conduct at ejections Offences on ejection day(h) use any vehicle bearing the colour or symbol of a political party by any means whatsoever;(i) loiter without lawful excuse after voting or after being refused to vote;(j) snatch or destroy any election materials; and (k) blare siren.(4) Any person who snatches or destroys any election material commits an offence and is liable on conviction to 24 months imprisonment.

Section 128 of the act adds that “any person who at an election acts or incites others to act in a disorderly manner commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a maximum fine of N500,000 or imprisonment for a term of 12 months or both.”

Section 131 of the same act further states that anyone who uses force, threats, violence or restraint is liable on conviction to a fine of N1 million or imprisonment for a term of 3 year.

In view of these, the president’s declaration may be said to lack legal backing, hence undemocratic.

Expert’s concern

Nigerians, however, have expressed mixed reaction over the declaration of the president.

Legal expert, Norrison Quakers, opined that the pronouncement in itself is a threat to the country’s constitutional democracy.

“Already, the duties and functions of the security agencies with other executive arms of government, who are enforcers of the law, are clearly stipulated in the constitution, that of the judiciary which interprets and the legislators who make the law are all enshrined there in”, he submitted.

“To deal ruthlessly is a word used in the military constituency, which the President once belonged, but he needs to realise that we are currently in a democratic government. Even if he is passionate and so interested in leaving a legacy, not this way that is so undemocratic and lawless.

“As the president, even if he wants to declare a war, he can’t even do it alone without consulting the National Assembly. He must, however, follow the laws as enshrined in the present Electoral Act whether he signs the amended one or not”

Pioneer Secretary-general, Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) and Executive Chairman, Centre for Anti-corruption and Open Leadership, Mr. Debo Adeniran, said he is in support of the president because he has a duty to ensure that nobody messes up the electoral process. According to him, citizens should not negatively blow up the issue, as only election riggers are meant to be scared.

He, however, advised increased engagement and voter education to prevent voters’ apathy after the postponement of the elections, as the consequences will cut across all political parties.

Opinion analyst, Mr. Gerald Eze, however, stated that the president must be absolved of some blames because the statement is basically to deter ballot snatchers from their usual activities.

He asked, “Have we wondered what would actually happened to those who would not be involved in snatching ballot box? Those that will come to the polling boot, cast their votes, monitor the elections and return peacefully back to their homes? Are we really encouraging ballot snatchers? What exactly do we want in this country?

“Whether he signs the electoral bill or not, we have an election at hand, and the success of that election is what matters so much to him at this time”.