CSO Warns Security Agents Against Threatening, Arresting #AlleyesonJudiciary Protesters

Security agencies were on Thursday warned against intimidating and arresting protesters expressing their civic right, which is enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution.

Coalition for the Protection of Democracy (COPDEM) wondered how anybody could be intimidated by ‘AlleyesonJudiciary’ protesters if they don’t have a skeletons in their cupboards.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja as a result of arresting and intimidating some protesters, the Civil Society group led by Barr. Ifeanyi Nrialike, insisted that the judiciary should get the required attention to enable it to deliver the right judgment and recalled that already, a senior member of the Kano election panel has cried out over attempts to bribe her.

COPDEM maintained that since there was no state of emergency in Nigeria, the holding of peaceful rallies should be allowed.

The group said it is constitutional to have a rally and everybody has a right to hold a rally, adding that there’s nothing wrong with ‘AlleyesonJudiciary.’

COPDEM said, “If you don’t have a skeleton in your cupboard, you don’t have reason to fear the ‘AlleyesonJudiciary’ slogan, there is no day nobody will think about what will come out of the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT), saying Judiciary is the last hope of common man is not mounting pressure on Judiciary.”

The group further said that if the security agency is stopping people from protesting, is like telling them to go back home and take up arms, adding that the security agencies should rather focus their attention on criminals and terrorists rather than harassing Nigerians expressing their civic rights as provided in the constitution.

The group said, “If you stop people from protesting, you are telling them to go and take up arms. The security agencies should rather focus on criminals and terrorists instead of harassing innocent citizens expressing their civic rights.”

COPDEM also recalled that in 2003 former President Muhammadu Buhari was allowed to hold a rally when there were petitions in court over the election then.

The group noted that Nigerians should be allowed to gather peacefully, protest and exercise opinions for or against the government as expressly captured in the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The group, which resolved to stage a peaceful protest in Abuja, called on the Judiciary to deliver Judgment in the interest of the country on August 26, 2023.