Lawyers To Governors: Obey Movement Restriction Order

Lawyers on Thursday in Lagos asked governors and their parties to abide by the provision of the Electoral Act restricting movement of people during election period.
They said as the chief security officers of their respective states, they are duty bound to abide by the provision of the law.

“The Electoral Act binds everybody and its provisions should be respected by all, “they said.

The lawyers’ comments followed claim by the Edo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party alleging that Governor Adams Oshiomhole was planning to flout electoral regulations by using helicopter to move around during today’s presidential election.

The PDP Chairman in the state, Dan Orbih, had described such movement as dangerous and inimical to having credible election and therefore asked the governor to comply with the restriction of movement order.

“We are totally opposed to his movement on election days, either by road or by air,” Orbih said.

But the All Progressives Congress Publicity Secretary in the state, Mr. Godwin Erhahon, defended the governor, saying the movement would not violate the Electoral Act.

“If there is restriction on the election days and the governor as the chief security officer of the state decided to use helicopter for his movement to ensure maintenance of law and order, there is nothing wrong with that,” Erhahon said.

A Lagos-based lawyer and rights activist, Mr. Wahab Shittu, urged the governors, who he described as major contributors to the growth of democracy, to adhere to the rule of law.

Shittu said, “All the governors, including Oshiomhole subscribe to the rule of law. So, there is no way our democracy will be effectively practised without their adherence to the rule of law. “If the electoral act restricts movement, the order should be respected by all, no matter how anybody is, because the law is bigger than the person.”

He, however, said the governors had the right as chief security officers of their states to mobilise security personnel to contain crisis even on election day.

“The fact that election is taking place does not mean that the governors should keep their responsibility as the chief security officers in abeyance,” Shittu said.

Another lawyer, Mr. Rasheed Bamisile, also urged the governors to be on the top of the security situation in their states.

He said governors, especially those who are not candidates for any election, might move round to ensure peaceful conduct of the poll.