PANDEF sympathises with victims of electoral violence

The PAN Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has made its comments on the conduct of the February 23 Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The group in a statement by its National Secretary, Dr. Alfred Mulade, on Tuesday condemned the violence and killings witnessed during the polls in parts of the country, particularly in South-South states– Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta.

The statement reads “While we sympathise with the families of the victims, who were cut down in their prime in the orgy of electoral violence, we demand a full scale inquiry into these incidents.”

It said the inquiry must bring the perpetrators “under the weight of the law, irrespective of their status in the society.

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“We note with disappointment the alleged involvement of some security and paramilitary operatives, who are expected to protect the electorate as well as the denials and counter accusations, in the condemnable episodes.

“Furthermore, PANDEF is disturbed by the reported activities of supposedly influential politicians, in or out of government, bent on causing mayhem and breach of the peace in an attempt to swing electoral fortunes in their preferred direction.

“We caution that Nigeria is a country governed by laws. No person is permitted to take laws into his hands by resorting to violence and killing, or sponsorship of brigandage in the name of elections, in any form; and that, the rule of law must be applied, in full measure,” he said.

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