The Nigerian Army have stated that they are ready to follow the order against ballot box snatchers in the general elections.
The order was given by President Muhammadu Buhari during an APC caucus meeting in Abuja. The president stated that anyone who decides to snatch ballot box should be ready to pay with his life.
“Anybody who decides to snatch boxes or lead thugs to disrupt it (election), may be this is the last unlawful action you will take,” Buhari told his audience.
“I have already ordered the military and the police to be ruthless. We are not going to be blamed that you want to rig election.
“I want Nigerians to be respected, let them vote who ever they want across the (political) parties.
“Anybody who think he has enough influence in his locality to lead a body of thugs to snatch boxes or to disrupt the voting system, he will do it as the expense of his own life,” the president added.
Spokesperson for the Nigeria Army, Sagir Musa, said the for is ready to comply with the order.
“If Commander-in-Chief has given order to the Nigerian Army to that effect, be rest assured that order will be totally and effectively obeyed without any ifs or buts,” Mr Musa said.
However, a legal practitioner, Inibehe Effiong who disagrees with the president’s directive. According to home, such orders were in violation of the 2010 amended electoral act because security agencies are expected to take orders from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during elections.
“Under the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended), all security agencies are to take instructions from INEC during elections. Buhari’s shoot at sight Order is illegal and amounts to a flagrant and disgraceful attack on the independence on the electoral commission and the rule of law,” Mr Effiong said.
