Femi Falana, a lawyer and human rights activist has accused some vested interests in the country of plot to truncate the 2023 general election.
President Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave office next year May 29, 2023 after eight years allowed by the constitution. Governorship elections and parliamentary elections are also expected to be conducted to usher in new administrations across the country.
To this effect, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC Prof. Mahmood Yakubu said the Electoral body has put everything in place to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
But Falana, a senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, said despite the readiness of the Electoral body the election could be truncated by undemocratic forces.
The senior advocate in a statement, on Monday, said he raised the alarm following series of attacks on the offices of INEC across the country.
The statement came on the heels of Prof. Yakubu earlier comment yesterday that the commsioning is being frustrated by the attacks, saying the problem could derail its plan to conduct a free, fair and credible election.
No fewer than 50 attacks on INEC facilities have been recorded in 15 states across the country in the last four years.
According to data obtained by the magazine, Imo State recorded the highest number of attacks on with 11 incidents followed by Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross River, Abia, Anambra, Taraba, Borno, Ogun, Lagos, Bayelsa, Ondo and Kaduna States.
Falana said the situation must not be allowed to continue, called on the security agencies to step up their efforts and arrest those attacking INEC offices.
He dismissed claims by security forces that INEC facilities are well protected, noting the the commission will not be able to conduct the election if those destroying its property are not apprehended.
The statement read in part: “In spite of the fact that the facilities are said to be well guarded, the criminal elements involved in the nefarious activities generally operate without any challenge from security forces. If the dangerous trend continues on a larger scale, INEC will not be in a position to conduct elections in the affected areas. It is, therefore, curious to note that the few suspected arsonists have not been charged before any court,” he said in a statement sent to Channels Television.
“The state of insecurity in Nigeria has also constituted a serious threat to the conduct of credible elections. It has been confirmed that elections cannot take place in the over 40 local government areas in different parts of the country which are firmly under the control of various armed gangs, including bandits, terrorists, and known and unknown gunmen. The territories seized by the criminal gangs are in Borno, Kaduna Katsina, Niger, Sokoto, Zamfara, Abia, and Imo States.
“Unless the security forces are prepared to deal with the anti-democratic forces that are currently disrupting the democratic process, the 2023 general elections may be sabotaged to the detriment of democracy and political stability in the country.”
