SAN FRANCISCO, March 30, (THEWILL) – Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room said on Monday that it is deeply concerned by reports of attempts across several states of the country to undermine the integrity of the collation of votes and outcome of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on Saturday.
In a statement, the Situation Room said it received disturbing reports that politicians are attempting to use national security apparatuses to fiddle with the election collation process and pass off results that undermine the credibility of the elections and the sacrifice of millions of Nigerians, who against all odds trooped out to cast their votes last Saturday.
The Situation Room therefore called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure that results that are announced reflect the true outcome of the votes cast by the Nigerian people. Given the many concerns that have been raised and the investments that have been madetowards the conduct of the 2015 general elections,it advised INEC to ensure that its laudable efforts are not marred by a failure or abuse of the collation process and that all announced results are accurate and reflect the will of the Nigerian people.
The Situation Room also expressed disappointment at the actions of politicians who are bent on plunging the country into chaos to achieve desperate political ends. It lamented that reported electoral fraud is being sought to be perpetuated by political forces and security personnel, saying this negates the spirit of the Abuja Peace Accord voluntarily signed by the presidential candidates of the political parties, and threaten the peace and stability of the Nigerian nation.
The Situation Room called on security personnel to note that they will be held to account and pursued for prosecution under various national and international laws if they undermine the elections.
Situation Room however advised Nigerians to be vigilant at this critical time of our national history and defend the course of democracy.
Situation Room also called on the international community to support the Nigerian people in defence of our right to democratically elect our leaders, without political subversion by politicians. Situation Room urged the international community to exert every effort in assisting the Nigerianpeople to hold political actors to account. “Where necessary, needed sanctions should be activated and targeted against specific political actors and officials for their action in instigating crisis in Nigeria,” it said.
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