Local and foreign pressure may ensure that violators of the law in the ballot this month are tried at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for attempts to destabilise Nigeria, Africa’s largest democracy, and a beacon of hope to the rest of the world.
A governor who confided in TheNiche said the United States and European countries are showing special interest in Nigeria to ensure the election is credible, transparent, free, and fair.
America’s warning
He cited the remark by U.S. Secretary of State, John Kerry, who told President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that America’s would withdrawal visas from politicians who breach the peace pact as a hint of dire consequences.
“From the look of things, the international community will take very stern measures against Nigeria if we bungle this election the way it had been done in the past.
“When John Kerry talked about withdrawal of American visa from individuals, he was only being mild. Something bigger than that will certainly happen if this election is rigged,” said the governor.
Kenyatta’s example
“Some African leaders, like President Uhuru Kenyata of Kenya, have been dragged to the ICC for taking actions that led to deaths of their people, and you know that nobody goes to the ICC and comes back the same.
“Those who may be planning anything funny in the February elections here will most likely join Kenyatta in The Hague.”
EU watching
The European Union (EU) has deployed the first batch of 30 observers to start monitoring the spade work for the elections. The delegation visited Buhari in Abuja last week.
The delegation, led by EU Chief Election Observer, Santiago Fisas, told Buhari that the EU would deploy a total 90 observers to monitor the vote across the country, except in the North East because of the insecurity there.
Fisas confirmed that the second group of EU observers will arrive Nigeria by February 7, and the last before the election.
Importance of Nigeria to the world
He said the election in Nigeria is very important to the EU because whatever happens in the country affects the whole of Africa and Europe.
“The European Election Mission is a big mission. It is a mission that started in November and will be in place till mid April. What happens on election day is not only the problem.
“It is what happens during and within a space of time, how the political parties conducted their campaigns, how the law has been complied with, the propaganda, activities of the media and any possible claims after the elections.
“That is our role, and not just to follow up the days of election,” he explained after the meeting with Buhari.
“This is a very big country with so many inhabitants and so, it is not possible to cover everything. I can’t tell you that we will cover all the wards either for this election or for any other election.
“We can’t be in the North East for security reasons. But we have people deployed very close to the North East and we have contacts there and so will try to get better information as much as we can have on the North East.
“But the present situation does not allow us to go to the North East.”
Buhari described the EU observers as experienced people who have been covering elections in other countries and “they are qualified to come for these elections; they cannot cover all the 120,000 polling units but they will place people in strategic places to advise them.”
Alleged threats of violence
The two dominant parties, the PDP and APC, have been accusing each other of planning electoral fraud during the polls.
PDP Campaign Director of Media and Publicity, Femi Fani-Kayode, alleged that the APC engages in mind boggling propaganda and threat of violence.
His words: “We are not, at all, surprised about the false alarm raised by the APC that the PDP-controlled federal government is planning to declare a six-month state of emergency across the land.
“It is characteristic of the opposition to make spurious allegations in the build-up to the scheduled February general elections.
“The APC’s penchant for propaganda and threat of violence is mind-boggling. The narrative weaved together by the opposition party is disingenuous and it shows how desperate it has become in its impossible bid to dislodge the PDP-controlled federal government.
“It is clear that the APC now knows full well that a crushing defeat awaits it at the February 14 presidential election; otherwise why would it embark on this flight of illusion about a purported plot by the PDP to precipitate violence prelude to the declaration of a state of emergency?
“We state categorically that the PDP is ready for the February 14 presidential elections and all subsequent election; and is therefore not party to any imagined ploy to postpone or cancel the election.
“At no time has the PDP ever had the power to postpone or cancel elections. Moreover, the PDP has been consistent in stating its readiness for the forthcoming elections.
“We urge our numerous supporters and indeed all Nigerians to discountenance the panic-driven shenanigans of the APC.
“The inalienable right of every eligible Nigerian to participate in the political process of our great country is guaranteed by the 1999 Constitution as amended and the relevant Electoral Laws.
“The PDP has neither the right nor inclination to dictate to anyone, including members of the opposition party, how he or she participates in the electoral process.
“If the APC is afraid that its presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, has fallen foul of the laws of the land, instead of crying wolf he should submit himself to the nearest police for interrogation and prosecution.
“We call on all Nigerians to be vigilant, because by its issuing this outlandish statement, the APC has unwittingly exposed its plot to whip up sentiments and incite the people to violence.
“The forthcoming election is not and should not be a do-or-die affair. We must state clearly that we are not impressed or in the least bit intimidated by their constant, boastful and empty threats. All the promises of violence in the world will not stop us from shaming them on February 14.
“The PDP is battle-ready and we are confident of victory in free, fair and credible elections on February 14 and 28.”
