CSOs to parties: Petition tribunals against outcome of elections — but don’t protest

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) says parties aggrieved by the outcome of elections should not protest but petition the tribunals.

The CSOs are Campaign for Dignity in Governance, Committee for the Protection of Peoples Mandate, Center for 21st Century Issues, Movement for Democratic Change, and Center for Human and Socio-economic Rights.

Since the conclusion of the presidential and governorship elections, a number of groups — including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) — have protested against the outcome of the results, and others have shown solidarity with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for doing what they described as a “good job”.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, Razaq Olokoba, speaking on behalf of the coalition, said the law does not permit blackmail or incitements by parties aggrieved by the outcome of an election.

“The constitution provides room for aggrieved parties to seek redress for any perceived infraction through the election petitions tribunal and the courts,” Olokoba said.

“Nowhere in the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is it stipulated that when an election) is conducted and results declared, that the aggrieved parties, candidates and supporters can resort to street protests, threats of violence, call for cancellation of election or installation of an interim government.

“The constitution does not permit for aggrieved candidate(s) or party to engage in peddling of fake news, hate speech, lies, falsehood, misinformation, incitements, campaign of blackmail, intimidation and calumny against the state through threats of breakdown of law and order.”

He said any group participating in the aforementioned activities is threatening the country’s national security and is liable to treason.