Nigerians and friends of Nigeria in the United Kingdom (UK) will commence Candlelight Vigils for Democracy in Nigeria in front of the Nigerian High Commission London on Saturday 21 February 2015 from 5pm - 7pm. This will continue every Saturday till 21 March - a week before the postponed elections are scheduled to hold.
The vigils are organised by the Executive Council of the UK Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Central Working Committee of the APC Campaign 2015 Committee (a conglomeration of all General Buhari Support Groups and APC Units) in the UK.
Nigeria High Commission London
According to release signed by APC UK's Publicity Secretary - Philip Ilenbarenemen, "these peaceful assemblies with lighted candles on these cold winter nights are to lend our voices to democracy in Nigeria, which is under threat from unscrupulous militricians and politicians who are in collaboration with President Goodluck Jonathan and the PDP to scuttle the constitutionally provided quadrennial elections, having postponed them on the very flimsy excuse of the armed forces services chiefs’ refusal to discharge their constitutional duties of defending Nigeria, with veiled threats of mass insecurity during the planned elections. We are also aware through media publications, of clandestine plans by shadowy powerful people in the military high command, working with some retired senior military officers and certain powerful members of President Jonathan’s kitchen cabinet to foist on Nigeria, an interim government peopled by PDP men handpicked by President Jonathan – a concept alien to the 1999 Nigerian constitution, as amended."
According to the statement, the vigil is to "press home our demand that:
* The Federal Government of Nigeria MUST desist forthwith from further postponement of the general elections now scheduled for March 28th and April 11 2015.
* The Federal Government of Nigeria MUST guarantee free, fair and credible elections in Nigeria and respect the will and wishes of the people as expressed in the elections afterwards.
* The rescheduled election dates of the 28th of March and 11th of April remain sacrosanct as our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigerians will not tolerate any further shift of elections date as this is liable to cause an avoidable constitutional crisis in Nigeria.
* The use of the card readers and PVCs for the 28th of March and 11th of April elections is non-negotiable, as contrary to the misinformation being disseminated that the use of card reader is not synonymous with electronic voting.
* The Federal Government of Nigeria repudiates and desists forthwith from plans to empanel a Government of National Unity or an Interim Government – all concepts alien to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
* The military should be kept away from election duties henceforth in line with the Court of Appeal decision of 16th February 2015, which upheld an earlier judgement of the Sokoto Federal High Court, a Judgement which ruled as illegal, the participation of the military, in the electoral process throughout Nigeria."
The statement concluded that "Nigeria is not practicing true democracy – what is taking place in Nigeria under the watch of President Goodluck Jonathan is democratic tyranny powered by a well-oiled kleptocracy machine with President Jonathan himself at the helms of control with impunity. We are aghast and bemused that President Jonathan is steadily dragging the military into playing roles other than its constitutional ones in the Nigerian polity, which are capable of undermining the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, against Federal Supreme Court orders."
APC cautioned that "For fascism and anarchy not to descend on Nigeria, the All Progressives Congress (APC), is hereby calling on the international community and all lovers of democracy and friends of Nigeria around the world not to standby and silently watch Nigeria unravel and descend into the darkness of draconian dictatorship and oblivion.
"Nigerians are desirous of a peaceful, secured, united and working country. We are tired of the PDP’s skulduggery, orchestrated insecurity, corruption and abuse of power with impunity. APC wants a truly free and democratic Nigeria NOW!"