The Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) has advocated for violent free election in Ekiti state, stressing that employing proper security intelligence will be better than deploying tens of thousands of policemen and security agents to the state.
The National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer, CEPEJ, Comrade Sheriff Mulade stated this in a press statement made available to journalists in Warri.
He said deploying tens of thousands of policemen and security agents on the eve of election to states as though they are in a state of war might negatively affect the turnout of voters and the outcome of the election.
Comrade Mulade, therefore called on security agencies, INEC and the government to provide an enabling environment free from intimidation for a free, fair and credible election, adding that security agencies especially, the police must conduct themselves professionally.
He also called on the people of Ekiti state to come out en mass and vote for their choice candidates without feeling intimidated by the presence of these security agencies.
The statement reads in part, “There is no war in Ekiti state, what we have is election, therefore, the security agencies must be neutral and allow the people to freely exercise their franchise. It is the peoples’ right.
“We have observed with keen interest the security situation in Nigeria today. The security challenges have become of great concern to us and we believe to other well-meaning Nigerians.
“The spate of killings across the country especially, in the North Central and the unending fatal conflicts between herders and farmers across the country. There are further threats of kidnapping, assassinations, cult gangs and other criminalities that might compromise national security. Interestingly, the federal government has accused some politicians of masterminding these killings.
“The fear again is that these security challenges might negatively affect the July 14 Ekiti governorship election and 2019 general elections. There has been a bombardment of speeches that are not healthy from political actors across party lines in Ekiti state either accusing one another or the Election Management Board that is INEC of irregularities or attempts to rig the elections. These unguarded speeches are capable of triggering actions that will cause a serious breach to not only security of lives and property in Ekiti state but National security.
“We want to commend the Nigeria Security agents for the massive deployment of security personnel to Ekiti. However, more worrisome about the huge deployment of security agents to Ekiti state is the perception in some quarters that the security agents may serve negative ends. One may ask, why should the Nigeria Police deploy as much as 30,000 police officers and men just for a governorship election?
“You can also imagine the number of soldiers, Civil Defence, DSS and other Para military outfits deployed. Why not Zamfara, Plateau and Benue in the North Central where massive and cruel killings are taking place. The deployment is it to intimidate the people and deprive them of their rights? By this act, the people of Ekiti state are tactically disenfranchised because the presence of these number of security agents breeds an atmosphere of fear and intimidation cajoling the people to stay away from polling units and invariably denied from casting their votes.
“Finally, we want to strongly commend the International Communities and Donors for showing great concern in promoting peace and security in Nigeria through trainings and sponsorship of Civil Society Organizations in elections and security matters.”
