👤 Abdul Tukur, DENISAURUS News

A few days before voters go to the polls, and officers who are meant to be neutral have been caught displaying loyalty to a particular candidate, raising questions about the President’s ability to provide a free, fair and transparent elections. 

DENISAURUS News has discovered that institutions like the Nigerian Army, Nigeria Police Force, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has been infiltrated by those supporting President Muhammadu Buhari.

Officers wearing their police and military uniform, were seen raising four fingers, in similar like gestures as supporters of President Buhari, who is seeking a second term in office.

President Buhari has promised that voters will able to vote in an atmosphere devoid of intimidation and violence, but the compromised Force and Law Enforcement Agencies, showing sympathy for the President’s ambition to return to office on May 29, might not allow a conducive environment required for a “free” and “fair” election.

The elections which was scheduled to hold on Saturday 16 February has now been postponed to the 23rd of this month.

An opposition candidate, Abubakar Atiku is expected to do well at the polls.

Alhaji Atiku, a former Vice President who won the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is certain he would win the election if it is done in a “fair” and “credible” manner, but he says the Government are planning to rig.

Judging by certain moves taken days before the elections, the incumbent President who was the first to defeat a sitting president at the poll in Nigeria has been described an “undemocratic” leader.

Those who say so cite the recent suspension of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Walter Onnoghen.

Justice Onnoghen was temporarily replaced with Tanko Mohammed following allegation of corruption and falsification of his assets, but critics of President Buhari say what he did was unconstitutional because the National Judicial Council is the body established to discipline any erring members of the judiciary.

A query from the NJC has since been issued to the suspended CJN following a petition from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The President who denies abusing the rule of law, insists that the election would be fair. He recently gave a strict order to the law enforcement agents for them to be ruthless with anyone who steals a ballot box.

President Buhari’s order for security agents to shoot-at-sight electoral offenders who plan to rig the elections received various interpretations on social media.

Alhaji Atiku said “it is quite shocking for any head of state to utter such words in a democracy. A pre-condition for ‘free, fair and credible’ elections is that the people are able to cast their vote without fear of violence.”

But, a prominent lawyer, Jiti Ogunye said the instruction of the President was in “accordance with the law.”

“When a ballot box snatcher, armed with offensive weapons, including gun, is shot dead by security agents, he has been brought to justice in accordance with the law- section 33(2)(a-c) of the constitution of Nigeria.”

But another other lawyers say the law is specific with the punishment for riggers.

Section 129(4) of the Electoral Act states that it’s 24 months imprisonment for anyone who snatches ballot boxes at an election.