…Electronic voting ‘ll eliminate need for police during elections – COSEYL
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Major General Ijioma Nwokoro Ijioma (retd.), has said that security operatives should have no business in elections other than casting their own votes.
The retired General was reacting to the recent successful local government election by the Rivers State Government conducted without the involvement of police.
This is as the Igbo socio-political youth organisation, the Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has argued that the adoption of electronic voting will eliminate the need for police or other security agencies in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
Gen. Ijioma argued that election is purely a civil affair, hence, security agents should steer clear and allow civilians conduct it themselves.
According to him, the involvement of security agencies in the conduct of elections is an aberration that should not be encouraged.
He said: “The involvement of the police, military or paramilitary agencies in an election is abnormal. If you go to America or Canada, I have been there during elections, you won’t even know there is election.
“Election is a civil activity which should not have any semblance of military, police or paramilitary involvement. What is the duty of Police or military in an election?
“Do you know that the personnel of these security agencies are supposed to be voters themselves? They should be in mufti on election day to cast their votes just like every other voter. But in Nigeria we’re in the woods.”
President General of COSEYL, Goodluck Ibem, in his reaction, said Nigeria could still conduct credible elections without the services of security agencies if the country would be courageous enough to embrace electronic voting.
He said: “Penultimate Saturday’s successful Local Government election in Rivers State where there was no police to provide so-called security was a clear indication that it is high time we started electronic voting system as it is done in other countries like the United States of America where we borrowed our system of democracy from.
“Nigeria has overgrown a situation where voters need police or other security agencies to provide security for them before they can exercise their franchise which is a constitutional duty and right of citizens.
“The Rivers State experience is an eye opener and a call on the National Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, amend or make a new electoral law for electronic voting where Nigerians can vote from anywhere they reside in the world.
“We are in a digital age and we cannot be operating an analog voting system that clears the ground for the police and other security agencies to assist corrupt politicians to rig elections.
“It is time for Nigeria to start operating electronic voting system as is in done in other countries of the world,” COSEYL President said.
