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Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network, CHRAN, a Civil Society Organisation, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on the security crisis rocking Nigeria.
The CSO urged the president to work with the 36 State Governors and members of the National Assembly to establish State Police and National Forest Guards in Nigeria.
The Akwa Ibom State Director, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, who made the appeal in his remarks at the June 12 Annual Public Lecture organised by the CHRAN to mark the 2026 Democracy Day in Nigeria with the theme, “The Dangers of Vote Selling in a Democracy,’’ expressed worry at cases of school abductions both in Borno and Oyo States, urging the President to ensure immediate release of the abducted students and teachers.
He said, “The Centre urges the President of the Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to declare a state of emergency in the security situation facing the federation as a matter of urgent public importance.
“CHRAN calls for the overhauling and decentralisation of the security architecture of the federation to give more powers to the sub-national governments.’
He also tasked citizens to collaborate with the security agencies, as security is everyone’s responsibility.
The Director expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of some government councils in the state, urging the chairmen to complement the state government’s efforts by embarking on people-oriented projects.
On the 2027 elections, Isong urged the political class to approach 2027 electioneering campaigns with utmost decorum and a high degree of responsibility, appealing to the electorate to exercise their democratic right out of personal convictions, not by inducement.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Enefiok Essien, Former Vice Chancellor of the University of Uyo, in his lecture, decried the prevalence of trade in votes at elections, warning that it was inimical to democracy and good governance.
He noted that every Nigerian must be sensitised to their civic duty to guard democracy by shunning vote selling.
While describing poverty as one of the reasons for vote selling, the former UniUyo VC urged government at all levels to diversify the economy and create more employment opportunities to reduce the level of poverty.
He urged security agencies and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to be intentional in their approaches toward reducing vote trading.
“It is for INEC to ensure that voting cubicles are kept away from the public such that it will be difficult for vote buyers or their agents to see how the voters thumbprint the ballot papers. Mobile phone should not be allowed to be carried into the voting cubicle, to prevent the photographing of thump-printed ballot papers which the vote seller normally does to show the vote buyer (or his agent) as evidence of how/for whom he voted.”
On his part, Dr Udeme Nana recalled how free, fair and transparent the June 12, 1993 elections were and urged the political class and the electorate to reflect on those ethos to re-enact them in the 2027 polls.
He said, “June 12 brought a seismic change in the democratic culture of most Nigerians. It was the day when Nigerian voters stopped for a moment, blocked their ears, ignored and refused to dance to the drumbeats of Nigeria’s diverse tribes and tongues to go out and vote for a popular candidate of their choice. Nigerians voted proudly, massively. It was a day nobody bought or sold a vote.
“As we draw closer to yet another nationwide election, let us reflect on that missed opportunity and resolve to re-enact the political conduct exhibited by Nigerians on June 12 1993. On that date, even incumbent Governors lost in their own States. In this State, the sitting Governor, the late Obong Akpan Isemin, was a Member of the National Republican Congress ( NRC ), but the Social Democratic Party, SDP, of the late Chief Moshood Kolawole Abiola won with a large margin.”
Democracy Day: Declare state of emergency on security crisis- CSO urges Tinubu
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