President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari has vowed not to allow electoral offenders go unpunished. He said he would encourage the setting up of a special court to first prosecute them.
Buhari made this known on Saturday, while speaking with journalists in Daura, Katsina State after he cast his ballot in the governorship and state House of Assembly elections in Kofar Baru 3 of Sarkin Yara Ward, Daura Local Government Area
He said that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was critically following developments in Edo, Rivers and Imo States in the gubernatorial and House of Assembly polls, gathering evidence to present to INEC and the courts.
“I will look for understanding and cooperation from the National Assembly where a change in the Constitution or the Electoral Act is necessary. So, for me, to make up my mind here and later try to lobby is out of it because some of them, if they are very hard, they will give me a tough time. I will say that I haven’t read the Uwais Report, but I have read a few of the extracts from the papers, I think it is a good thing and we will encourage it.
“But we need to get a comprehensive report from the field. The running battle from Rivers, the South-East and the rest of the South-South, especially by Governor Amaechi, Governor Rochas Okorocha and governor of Edo State with INEC officials and law enforcement agencies and the Army is remarkable.
“I think it has to be totally exposed so that Nigerians will know which of the law enforcement agencies and at what levels is undermining the Constitution of Nigeria because the Electoral Act is derived from the Constitution of the country, so that in future, those who are in position will know that they are not beyond the law. I think that is what will bring more stability into the system. In view of that, I will try and work with the National Assembly to make sure that we do something about it.
“I will like to work within the system because we believe in it. I have just told you about three governors and the battle they have with the law enforcement agents in their states.
“We discussed and advised them to try and document these things legally so that it can be taken before the court and we will make sure that we register the cooperation of the court so that people who work against the law are prosecuted, especially those who have lost their immunity and those who think they have immunity because this is the best way to stabilize the system.
“People must not benefit from being lawless. You can’t be in a position by virtue of the Constitution, subvert the Constitution and continue to enjoy the privileges offered by the Constitution. I don’t think that will be acceptable by the APC. So, whether you are in the opposition or the government, you have to behave yourself. I think that is the way we can make progress,” Buhari said.
Commenting on the conduct of yesterday’s elections, Buhari said disruptions were less than in the presidential and National Assembly elections held penultimate week. But stories in Lagos and other APC states were unfortunate.
“I think there are less disruptions today than we had during the presidential and National Assembly elections. I hope that it was as a result of the bandwagon effect because APC had the upper hand during the last elections. But what happened in the South-South and the South-East cannot be compared to what happened today.
“What I saw was that there was a few cases of ballot snatching in some local government areas in Bayelsa and a few disruptions in I think, Adamawa state. But that is nothing near to what happened two weeks ago. I don’t think it is up to 25 percent of what happened two weeks ago. I think that after the elections, both parties, APC and PDP will perhaps make their presentations to INEC or the courts and then more details will emerge.
“Definitely maybe because the turnout is much lower. Info9ja
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