Atiku: Elections Should Not Be Militarised

Troops should not be deployed near polling units
Former Vice President and APC Chieftain, Atiku Abubakar has counseled against militarizing the proposed bye elections in Taraba, Imo and Abia states fixed for April 25.
Besides, he also wants INEC and security officials implicated in the conduct of last weekend’s Governorship election in Taraba State be removed and replaced with new personnel in the rerun election in the state.
The former Vice President made the suggestion on the heel of INEC’s decision to cancel the gubernatorial election results in some local government areas of Taraba State and declare the outcome of last Saturday’s polls in the state inconclusive.
In a statement, the Turaki Adamawa was in agreement with the widespread reports of irregularities in some local governments of the state saying: “these irregularities included using armed personnel to intimidate voters”.
The Former Vice President alleged that armed soldiers were attached to Senator Emmanuel Bwacha; Joel Ikenya, a current minister; as well as Senator Anthony Manzo, chief of staff to senator David Mark pointing out that these soldiers engaged in brazen acts that violated the electoral act including ballot-box snatching.
“Elections should not be militarized,” Atiku said, adding: “Nigeria is a democracy, not a dictatorship. Citizens should be able to go out and vote without fear of being threatened with the nuzzle of a gun.”
He said that these election violations were noticeably perpetrated in Southern Taraba, specifically in Wukari, Takum, Kurmi and Donga local councils as well as in the North, particularly in Lau and Yoro where Manzo comes from, noting that thousands of troops were deployed to these areas and electoral officers were heavily compromised.
“These people should not be allowed to go back during the rerun election,” Atiku stated, adding: “no troops should be allowed nearby.”
He also called on the Inspector General of Police to replace security personnel in Taraba with new teams from neighbouring Gombe, Bauchi and Adamawa, during the period of the rerun elections.