Bayelsa Poll: Group Demands Reduction Of Military Personnel

A coalition of civil society organisations, under the aegis of Coalition Against Electoral Rights Violation, on Wednesday in Abuja, demanded a reduction in military presence in the Bayelsa State supplementary election scheduled for Saturday.

Instead of the military, the group suggested that the Nigeria Police Force and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps should take the leading role during the exercise.

They also demanded for a presidential panel of inquiry to probe the unlawful deaths during the Bayelsa poll.

The position of COAGRIV, was contained in a petition signed by its Secretary-General, John Thompson, to the Independent National Electoral Commission and security agencies and copied to the National Human a Rights Commission and the leadership of the National Assembly.

While calling on the Inspector-General of Police and Chief of Army Staff to ensure that perpetrators of electoral offences in Bayelsa State were brought to justice, he called on INEC to partner with other relevant authorities to end the unnecessary killings during elections.(Punch)