The Nigerian Senate on Wednesday resolved to investigate the alleged cases of voter intimidation, harassment and disenfranchisement by security agencies in the recently conducted Kwara House of Representatives bye-election.
In a point of order, Senator Rafiu Ibrahim revealed that: “Less than 45% of registered voters showed up for the election because of the harassment and arrest going on. The DSS were protecting only members of the ruling party. Let us bring this to the notice of well-meaning Nigerians and the International Community.”
Speaking on the development, the President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki said:
“We must rise above partisan views. We have the responsibility as representatives of the people to ensure that elections do not involve issues of harassment to the nation and the security operatives must be seen to be non-partisan.
“It is very important that we ensure that our security agencies look into this matter not just because it has affected members of the Senate. We have elections coming in 2019 and it is important that we play our role to ensure the security agencies allow Nigerians carry out their civic responsibility to go and vote.
“A situation where individuals are not allowed to carry out their vote is a recipe for disaster. We must prevent it. An ad-hoc Committee should look into it and give us recommendations on how best to address this before next year because this is a matter of great importance & we must do something to call the security agencies to order so as to ensure free & fair elections,” the Senate President said.
The Senate then resolved to mandate the Committee on Police and National Intelligence to investigate this matter and report back to the full plenary.