A senior of Afenifere, Pan Yoruba Socio-Political Group, criticized the court decision to ban the government from deploying soldiers to polling units.
The court decision was announced earlier this week. The justice explained in his ruling that it’s unconstitutional to dispose army for the regulation of poll purposes without the support of the national assembly.
Reacting to the development, Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere chairman, said on March 24 that soldiers should not be barred during the elections. He lamented that the sad experience of the past was not taken into consideration.
He was quoted as saying by Vanguard:
“Nigeria is not developed to the extent that we should conduct election without the presence of the soldiers. Past experiences has shown that hijacking of ballot boxes and disruption of elections are possible because of inadequate security.
“Nigerians are not that disciplined that we should conduct elections without them they are to keep peace not to participate in the elections.
“Hoodlums will take advantage of this decision to wreck havoc in areas where their sponsors are not popular. I do not support this Court judgement it is not in the interest of our democracy.”
Meanwhile Muhammadu Buhari, the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, urged the Nigerian youths to refrain from taking arms to the polling units on March 28. He made a claim during his yesterday’s Northeast zonal rally.
