The Integrity Friends for Truth and Peace Initiative (TIFPI) has condemned the widespread killings across some states of the federation during Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections and called for a commission of enquiry into the killings.
The TIFPI is a duly accreditted Domestic Observer organisation for the 2019 general election in Nigeria.
Its Executive Director and Lead Observer, Livingston Wechie, in a statement on Sunday said that as a democracy driven platform, the TIFPI strongly condemned the wanton killings of Nigerians during the exercise in various places including INEC staff in Rivers Ibisiki Amachree and destruction of properties particularly election materials.
The group therefore called for a commission of enquiry into these cases of violence and killings with a view to bringing perpetrators to justice.
It also commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for holding strong despite overwhelming attempts by certain desperate politicians to scuttle the process in many places across the country as Nigerians of voting age trooped out enmass to elect the president and national legislators of their choice.
“Thus it is important to note that threats and killings of innocent people who are rightfully stakeholders in the electioneering processes are absolutely unjustifiable. It is best described as a crime against humanity and nothing more pretentious to take the life of another in a process where the destiny of a state or country is being rightfully determined.
“Thus in our 26 states deployment of observers, it is regrettable that while some states had a carnival-like election atmosphere, some others were disappointedly arenas of electoral violence seeking to undermine the credibility of the elections,” the statement said.
The group therefore proposed that a 30- year -jail term be enshrined in Nigeria’s laws as punishment for electoral violence offences, to serve as a deterrent to ready-made perpetrators of these heinous crimes. The group also proposed that whoever is found culpable should be barred from political participation for a fixed period inspite of sentence.
The group urged the government to set up an insurance package for victims, particularly the electoral officials, observers and members of the media, to compensate their families in the event of any eventualities.
“It is important to note that until punishment for electoral offenders, particularly their known sponsors move from the realm of advocacy to the material, realm of prosecution and strong penal measures then political ambitions will continue to survive and feed on the blood of innocent citizens.
“Whereas we welcome INEC’s decision to conduct fresh election in areas where violence halted the election, we charge the commission to remain upright to avoid possible compromise. Hence our politics should only be highly participatory voluntarily and no one should be coerced to do the biddings of others.
“Politicians and desperate supporters who ostensibly disrupt the process should be challenged appropriately so as to limit their negative influence to avoid the pains they inflict on citizens without cause,” the statement added.
Innocent Odoh, Abuja
