PDP drags Buhari to court over hijacking of ballot box directive

Nigeria’s main opposition Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) has dragged President
Muhammadu Buhari before an FCT high court
over his controversial directive to the military
on ballot box snatching.
President Buhari on Monday said all those
planning to snatch ballot boxes may be
carrying out their last illegal acts.
The president made the statement at the All
Progressives Congress (APC) caucus meeting
on Monday.
The comment generated heated debates in the
polity with many saying the president’s
statement is a veiled directive to security
operatives to kill (extra-judicially) those who
run afoul of the electoral law.
The PDP had described the directive as a
“direct call for jungle justice, attempt to divert
public attention from the APC’s plot perfected
elections rigging and political violence.”
Five days after the controversial comment, the
party approached a Federal Capital Territory
(FCT) high court on Thursday, asking it to
determine whether or not, the president’s
statement is unconstitutional.
According to documents obtained by
PREMIUM TIMES, the party also wants the
court to determine if the armed forces are
under any obligation to obey what the party
describes as illegal directives.
Amongst other requests, the party is seeking a
declaration by the court that the president
lacks powers to deploy the military to
participate in elections without the approval
of the National Assembly.
A leader of the All Progressives Congress
(APC), Bola Tinubu, however, defended the
president saying President Muhammadu
Buhari was ‘misinterpreted’.
The Electoral Act prescribes two years in jail,
not death, for persons found guilty of
snatching or destroying election materials.
Lawyers also argue that Section 33 of the
Nigerian Constitution gives instances where
”one may forfeit his/her life as a result of
certain scenarios”.
The Nigerian Army on Monday added another
twist to the debate when it told News men thatthey will obey ‘totally and effectively’
such order if it is given by Mr Buhari.