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From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Sequel to the killings and widespread violence that trialed the Osun State governorship poll, legal practitioners have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Nigeria Police Force to probe instigators of violence leading to the death of about 30 people.
Speaking on behalf of the lawyers, yesterday in Abuja, National Coordinator of the Coalition of Public Interest Lawyers and Advocates (COPA), Ajibola Bello, clarified that the allegations were beyond political parties and election results.
He specifically demanded a thorough probe into videos allegedly showing political actors threatening opponents, seeking to prevent citizens from voting and, in one instance, calling for the killing of members of an opposition party.
Bello emphasised that the outcome of the election could not terminate criminal responsibility for offences allegedly committed before or during the poll.
He said the coalition had reviewed a video linked to a leading figure in the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign in which he allegedly made a statement in Yoruba warning political opponents against going against President Bola Tinubu.
He added that the statement made at the commencement of the campaign, was followed by serious political violence in Esa-Oke including the killing of a citizen.
He, however, cautioned that COPA was not claiming that the statement, standing alone, established criminal responsibility for any subsequent killing.
“That determination belongs to investigators and ultimately the courts,” stressing that the statement and the violence that followed were sufficient grounds for a thorough and impartial investigation.
The coalition coordinator also expressed concerns over a video allegedly showing a serving lawmaker, calling on supporters to kill members of the Accord Party.
He said: “Where a serving Senator is recorded allegedly telling supporters to kill members of an opposing political party, and people subsequently lose their lives in election-related violence, the institutions established by law cannot simply look away.”
COPA also cited a video attributed to Francis Eniade, in which he was allegedly heard telling non-APC members not to come out to vote.
Bello said Eniade was also allegedly recorded warning members of the Accord Party against coming out to vote and specifically naming the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
The coordinator argued that no political actor had the authority to determine who could exercise the constitutional right to vote.
According to him, threats, intimidation or attempts to compel citizens to refrain from voting on the basis of political affiliation struck at the foundation of democratic government.
Bello urged the umpire to act on any electoral offences disclosed by evidence rather than leave the matter entirely to the security agencies.
He said the police and other appropriate security agencies should investigate the allegations, authenticate the videos, identify and interview the persons involved, speak to witnesses and establish the circumstances surrounding the reported killings and other acts of violence.
Bello stated that the relevant investigation files should subsequently be transmitted for prosecution where the evidence warranted such action.
“There can therefore be no institutional buck-passing,” the coordinator said.
The coalition expressed concern over alleged political protection, saying it had received reports suggesting that the failure to prosecute or investigate some of the persons involved could be connected to their membership or association with the APC.
Bello described the allegation as serious and challenged INEC and the police to disprove it through their actions.
“The easiest way to disprove an allegation of selective justice is to enforce the law without fear or favour,” he said.
Bello called on INEC to exercise its prosecutorial powers under Section 148 of the Electoral Act 2026 and ensure that anyone against whom sufficient evidence of an offence exists is charged before a competent court.
He stressed that the coalition was not asking the authorities to pronounce the accused persons guilty.
