Undue Militarisation Of Elections

The gross abuse of power and the undue militarisation of the just concluded Osun State governorship election and that of 21 June, 2014 in Ekiti State calls for a serious concern in order to forestall the danger it poses to Nigeria’s democracy.

At least 73,000 security personnel were deployed to Osun State allegedly to maintain law and order. The heavy presence of security men characterized pre-election and post-election activities throughout the state. This was widely criticized and many wonder what 2015 presidential election would look like if election in one state could command such a huge number of security agencies.

Some states in the northern part of the country, plagued by terrorism are begging for the deployment of more security personnel. Wouldn’t it have been be a wiser decision if these men were deployed to such areas to combat Boko Haram? Osun was like a war zone during the election. Some of the hooded security operatives harassed, intimidated and arrested innocent citizens. No reason was given for their arrest. Among those arrested were only leaders and agents of All Progressives Congress, APC.

Perhaps acting on instruction from their bosses, no member of PDP or other political parties was arrested, which gave the arrests away as an attempt to destabilise the opposition APC, prevent the arrested members from voting and make the party lose the election.

Among about 250 APC members arrested on the eve of the election and on the election day, were the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and the Media Aide to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, among other innocent citizens that were harassed. The ordeal of these men paints a clear picture of abuse of power and lawlessness on the part of the security men.

It is highly worrisome that security operatives who are paid to protect the people turned themselves to political tools for politicians. The President Goodluck Jonathan-led Federal Government should desist from this unwarranted practice in future elections because past experience has shown that excessive militarisation of elections usually creates fear in the electorate and they refuse to go out and vote on election day. Apart from causing voter apathy, it creates a tense atmosphere which is not conducive for voting exercise. This happened in Ekiti and was replicated in Osun last Saturday.

The Inspector General of Police and other heads of security agencies should ensure that their men stick to their professional responsibilities during and after elections to allow the will of the electorate prevail. That is the only way the nation’s democracy can flourish.