Don’t Let Military, NSA Blackmail INEC - Falana

Lagos lawyer and human rights activist, Chief Femi Falana (SAN) has faulted the submission of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega before the Senate on Wednesday that only the military can guarantee security during elections.

Falana regretted that the unconstitutional position taken by Jega was worsened by the outright refusal of the Senate president, David Mark to heed the calls by his colleagues to summon security chiefs and the national security adviser (NSA) “to explain their illegal interference in the constitutional responsibilities of the INEC in the management of the general election”.

In a statement he issued yesterday, Falana argued vehemently that by virtue of section 215 of the constitution, the maintenance of internal security including law and order during elections is the exclusive constitutional responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force.

“In the light of the above, Professor Attahiru Jega should ensure that INEC is not further blackmailed by the military hierarchy. On their own part, the national security adviser and the service chiefs should desist from usurping the constitutional responsibility of the INEC and the Nigeria Police Force”, he warned.

Noting that it was wrong for Jega to have stated that only the military could guarantee security during the forthcoming election, Falana said once INEC has discharged its constitutional duty of fixing election dates, the onus is on the Police to provide security and maintain law and order.

Falana explained that since election is not a military duty, the Police Force is at liberty to collaborate with other law enforcement agencies like the Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigerian Prisons Service etc. (Leadership)