Prosecuting Riggers: Creating precedence in Ekiti

We have heard that credo of the Nigerian ruling party is for their members to "win" elections by any means and then take the issue to the court. This gives them excuse to rig, maim and kill innocent Nigerians while denying them their constitutional right for freely and fairly elected leaders. Thier gambit is that it would take the courts so long to decide while they stay in office stealing as much as possible before the mandate is overturned. And that is if their opponent can prove "beyond reasonable doubt" that the elections were fraudulent.

That's why in the last 12 years of our democracy, 4 sitting governors have been removed from office for rigging all from the ruling party. Numerous other officials -senators, legislators, council chairmen, counsellors have also had their "ill-gotten" mandate overturned after spending months and years in public office that was not rightfully theirs.

Unfortunately, when the mandate is reversed, no effort is made to prosecute people who have been found guilty of stealing votes and perverting the course of justice. Because they know their mandate is shaky, these people spend the short time they have in-charge stealing blindly from the public coffers and their illegal salaries or perks are not even returned when the rightful owner of the mandate comes to power. In short, the risk of stealing a mandate and rigging elections is smaller than the risk of being found out. You still keep your loot and you are not tried for stealing.

We think this is wrong and we demand for firm detterents to make people think twice and thrice before engaging in electoral malpractice.

The current case in Ekiti state where the rightfully elected governor is only being given the reins of the state three and a half years after the elections provides an opportunity. All parties complicit to the fraud at the first elections and at the re-run should be brought to book. Even if they are just prosecuted but not found guilty, it will set a positive precedence ahead of the general elections in 2011.

We know that the Attorney General, being a member of the same political party as the perpetrators will not do anything without pressure. This is time therefore for Nigerians to prove that the power of the people is paramount by pushing them to act even against their will.

My recommendation is for us to move a petition for prosecution of riggers in Ekiti to happen and use social media and traditional media to build focus on the issue. Afterall, our President is now on social media and will find it hard to remain blind to this request if the groundswell in high enough.

This way when we take people's pictures and videos rigging during the forthcoming election, we can use this as evidence in asking for them to be prosecuted for their actions against the people.

If you have an interest in being involved in this, please send your thoughts and comments.

Posted via email from Femi Longe's Zone