The Transition Monitoring Group (TMG), a coalition of over 400 Civil Society Organizations, have resolved to petition the International Criminal Court (ICC) at The Hague over the violence and killings that trailed last weekend’s elections in Kogi and Bayelsa States.
The group which briefed journalists on their preliminary report on the polls, Tuesday in Abuja, also demanded outright cancellation of the Kogi state governorship election, describing the whole process that produced governor Yahaya Bello as a sham and a mockery of democracy.
Videos and reports of violent display by armed thugs who perpetrated evil especially trailed the Kogi poll, forcing the TMG to call for thorough investigation to the wanton bloodletting.
Dr. Abiola Akiyode Afolabi, chairperson of the said preliminary report on November 16 governorship elections in Bayelsa and Kogi States, show widespread irregularities ranging from unaccredited voters, snatching and destruction of election materials and free reign of armed thugs.
Afolabi called for “a public hearing of a sort where Nigerians can voice their minds on the way forward on our elections in Nigeria.”
“There is urgent need for election offences commission while asking that all fingered in the attacks be brought to book.
She added that “The situation during the elections in Kogi was worrisome, given the attendant frustration and fear unleashed on various citizens who were faced with electoral intimidation, violence and killings as the case may be in the state.
“The entire process was a sham and could be best described as elections programmed to fail in the sense that it fell below the standard of a credible election.
“TMG will not hesitate to officially write International Criminal Count, ICC and other relevant organs of United Nation to weigh into the matter.
She said Nigerians cannot afford to gloss over the systematic destruction of the values all in the quest to grab power.
“The TMG calls for accountability for perpetrators of the violence and conspirators, particularly the security forces who stood by when violence was being unleashed and who also participated in the mayhem on election day, particularly in Kogi State.
“The lapses observed were not consistent with the dictates of the constitution and other extant laws that guide the conduct of elections in Nigeria. As such, we call for immediate and outright cancellation of the election in the Kogi state.
“Rather, the political class are seen to be more concerned about electoral victory but not the conduct of the elections, the neutrality of the security operatives was also in doubt which further put the sanctity of the process in Kogi into contestation.
“As a group, we recall with nostalgia the experience in Kenya where several people were maimed, killed and rendered hopeless as a result of the post-election violence aftermath the outcome of the elections.”
Credit: Daily Independent
