The Civil Liberties Organisation, CLO has threatened to institute legal actions at the International Criminal Court, ICC in the Hague, against people making inciting statements, should the country eventually plunge into violence during or after this month’s general elections.
The group said it is documenting the divisive comments of some politicians threatening to cause trouble in the country if their party does not win the February 14 presidential election.
Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, a former Niger Delta militant leader has repeatedly said his team is ready for war if President Goodluck Jonathan, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP does not emerge as the nation’s President for a second term of office.
Jonathan is from the South-South zone of the country where Dokubo is also from. On the other hand, Rotimi Amaechi, Rivers State governor had also warned during the All Progressives Congress, APC’s salvation rally that his party will form a parallel government, if rigged out.
“We are documenting the comments of those making inciting and injurious statements. If anything does happen to this country, we shall drag those individuals to the ICC,” Igho Akeregha, CLO’s President stated while addressing a press conference in Lagos State.
The organisation has also warned the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to disenfranchise some Nigerians during the elections.
Calling on INEC to ensure fair distribution of Permanent Voters Card, PVC, Akeregha expressed worry over what he described as skewed distribution of the PVC in favour of the North against the South.
The CLO said INEC’s confession that it has successfully distributed 85 per cent of the cards in conflict prone states like Yobe while, it has only distributed about 56 per cent in a place like Lagos State, is illogical.
Akeregha stated that disenfranchisement of some Nigerians could spur political violence. The apolitical organisation therefore urged Attahiru Jega, INEC chairman to do everything humanly possible to prevent anything that could lead to post election violence.
“If the blood of a Nigerian should spill, Professor Jega must be ready to face the ICC,” Akeregha said.
Accusing the INEC chairman of only playing the ostrich, the organisation called on the electoral umpire to test run the card reading machines to avoid a repeat of the 2011 embarrassment when the registration machines failed in some areas.
The organisation expressed dismay over the “lacklustre approach of law enforcement agencies in dealing with the numerous cases of political violence in spite of the massive logical support of government.”
WhatsApp us