•Urges aggrieved parties to seek legal redress
From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The National Association of Seadogs, also known as pyrites confraternity, has sued for restraint from the political class over the conduct and outcome of the just concluded presidential election.
NAS Capoon, Abiola Owoaje in a press statement titled “2023 general elections: Nigeria political class need to exercise restraint” said several complaints on the conduct of the polls and its aftermath capable of undermining the credibility and integrity of the electoral process have been raised by political parties, electorate and international observers.
Owoaje saluted Nigerians, especially the teeming youth population for their patience while exercising their franchise and demonstrating abiding faith in the country.
He said those aggrieved about the outcome have the right to criticise the process and procedure adopted for the electoral process.
He, however, appealed for calm from all and sundry on the need to protect democracy to ensure nobody indulges in any action that could endanger democracy.
Part of the statement read: “The next few days are very crucial to the survival of our democracy especially as the second phase of the 2023 elections which is the governorship and state constituencies election are expected to take place on March 11. Therefore, calls suggesting truncation of democracy or resort to underhand tactics to derail it are unhelpful, counterproductive and should be discouraged.
“We caution political leaders, candidates and political parties to refrain from inflammatory utterances capable of igniting chaos in the country. We urge them to rein in their supporters from hate speeches, deliberate misinformation, fake news and propaganda meant to whip up base sentiments and potentially destabilise the country especially along our fragile tribal fault lines. As democrats, we encourage all aggrieved parties convinced on the violation of extant laws governing the conduct of elections by INEC to follow laid down procedures and protocols for redress as stipulated in the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to seek justice.
“We implore the INEC to take urgent steps to resolve complaints against its processes especially the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) and the INEC Election Result Viewing portal (IReV) before the March 11 elections to restore the confidence of Nigerians in the electoral system. The National Association of Seadogs (Pyrates Confraternity) task President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector General of Police, to ensure adequate protection for all voters in subsequent elections. Nigeria’s democracy has come to stay and we must all collectively work towards ensuring that nothing imperils it.”