Comply with Constitution, UN, EU, AU Tell Nigeria

Comply with Constitution, UN, EU, AU Tell Nigeria

• Buhari opposes military deployment for elections

Representatives of the United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and the African Union (AU) on Tuesday asked the stakeholders in the Nigerian electoral process to ensure compliance to  constitutional provisions for conduct of  the general elections.
The advice by three international bodies came just as presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Muhammadu Buhari, opposed the deployment of soldiers for March 28 presidential elections.

The envoys met separately with Buhari and his running mate, Prof, Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking  during the visit, the special representative of the United Nations in West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambers, told journalists that “Nigeria stakeholders have accepted the fact that there’s a postponement and they are working in that context. All we need to be mindful of now is the constitutional limit for the elections and this should be respected.”
The UN representative who came in company of  the AU representatives,  expressed deep concern over the postponement of the  elections.

He commended all Nigerians for not resorting to mayhem which he said normally follows such postponement, saying that wise counsel would continue to prevail in the country.
He tasked the presidential candidate to adhere to the Abuja accord recently signed, adding that  the eyes of the whole world were on Nigeria.
“We also expect the security agencies to be fair to all the parties, act professionally and to ensure an atmosphere in which Nigerians can freely express their free will  to vote for  a candidate of  their choice.

“We have commended General Buhari, just like yesterday, we had the opportunity to do same with President Goodluck Jonathan and his party the PDP. Both parties and their leaders have acted with great sense of maturity and we are very pleased with what we have seen.
“We want Nigeria to continue to surprise the world and to come out of this election to set a high standard which will give Nigeria a moral authority that will enable it to continue to lead and be regarded as genuine and natural leader in West Africa and Africa.”
In the same vein, the representative of African Union Commission on Political Affairs, Aisha Abdullah, said the AU is showing interest in the Nigerian  election because it is very important to Africa.

“AU has been following events in Nigeria and for us Nigeria is extremely important as the largest democracy. We believe the election is the largest event in the continent at the moment,” she said. EU

Also speaking shortly after his meeting with Buhari, the leader of the EU Observer Mission, Santiago Fisas urged the federal government and Nigerian political stakeholders to ensure compliance to the constitution.
The EU envoy also raised the issue of security concerns and what would be the likely scenario if the issue of security still persist especially in the north east after the six weeks postponement elapsed.

In his comments, Buhari said he had resolved after the signing of Abuja accord that he and his supporters  would always respect the law of the land.
Buhari said the position of APC is very clear that, “INEC has played its last card and that is the limit.”.
He explained that his party was on course for the election before the INEC postponed the election quoting military letter urging a postponement

“We were hopeful that the elections will go on as scheduled when the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) made his presentation to the meeting of the National Council of States that they are ready for the February 14 election. But a letter from the military saying they couldn’t guarantee safety, I think forced INEC to agree to a postponement.
“The letter to INEC by the military was unfortunate and even more  unfortunate was the comment made by the NSA in London. Suggesting the need to shift the election dates.” According to him, “Our party has made it clear that there is no more room for maneuver and that hand-over dates must be keep.

“Certainly, this 28 of March there must be election and it is up to the government to ensure that the election is free, fair and credible.”
According to him, “On whether he will support the deployment  of the military on election day, Buhari, said: “No I do not support it. It is the duty of the Police and there is no local government area that police does not operate,” he said.
Buhari thanked the delegation for their concern about the country, assuring that “We will continue to act responsibility but they should not tamper with the constitution of the country.