'Vote And Leave' Order; IG Over-Stepped Bounds --SAN

The Chairman, Anti-Corruption Commission, Nigerian Bar Association,
Mr. Yusuf Ali (SAN), on Sunday said the Inspector-General of Police,
Mr. Sulieman Abbah, over-stepped his bounds in his recent directive
that electorate should go home after voting and should not wait for
the votes to be counted.

He stated that the Independent National Electoral Commission had final
directives over the conduct of the elections.

The SAN said the position of INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega, that
no law prevented electorate from waiting for the counting of the votes
was valid and lawful.

He spoke to journalists in Ilorin on the sidelines of 'Walk for
peace and sanctity of human lives,'organised by Ghalib Chamber.

He stated that people should have value for the sanctity of human
lives. He urged all stakeholders to ensure that the March 28 and April
11 general elections are violence-free, transparent and credible.

Ali said, "As far as elections are concerned, the position of INEC is
final and this is not the first time the IG would be going beyond his
bounds with respect to law. He took it upon himself to be interpreting
the constitution when the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to
the All Progressives Party. The IGP said Tambuwal has lost his seat.

"So for me, when INEC says you stay there till the end of the
election, no other person and no other authority in Nigeria can
contravene that because the conduct of election is the preclusive
preserve of INEC."

He also said the IGP should have resigned having restored Tambuwal's
security details.

He stated that the restoration of the security details was evidence
that Abba goofed when he withdrew them.

"Actually when, some days ago, I read that he has restored Tambuwal
Security details, honourably he should have resigned because it has
shown that the position he took was illegal, unconstitutional and was
political, on the stand of withdrawing the details in the first place.

"For an honourable person, he would just go, but Nigeria does not
possess too many people who have principle which is unfortunate," Ali
said.
--PUNCH