Group Condemns Police Violence Against Electoral Protesters

The political group MCE issued a statement condemning the Nigerian police's use of tear gas and brute force against peaceful protesters advocating for electoral reforms. Spokesperson Wale Okuniyi highlighted that the violent dispersal of unarmed citizens sends a troubling signal regarding the government's response to demands for credible elections.

The group stressed that using force against peaceful demonstrators does not defend democracy but rather undermines it, creating a perception that state institutions are being used to shield controversial legislative actions from public scrutiny. They called on the National Assembly to clarify its commitment to defining mandatory safeguards for electronic transmission of election results and to engage openly with civil society on electoral reforms.

The MCE demanded an immediate and transparent investigation into the police's actions against the protesters, emphasizing that sovereignty belongs to the Nigerian people and that electoral laws should not be manipulated for political convenience.