2019 polls: SDP raises alarm over election violence, killings

The Social Democratic Party, SDP, Friday raised the alarm that the
country may return to the dark days of election violence, Killings and
thuggery in the 2019 general elections.

It also condemned the presidency and the ruling All Progressives
Congress, APC, for allegedly refusing to expand the democratic space
for the opposition political parties across the country.

SDP National Secretary, Shehu Gabam expressed this worry at a capacity
building programme organised for the state chairmen, state organising
secretaries and legal advisers of the party at the Rock View Hotel,
Abuja.

Gabam's declaration followed President Muhammadu Buhari's withdrawal
of assent to the electoral amendment bill passed on two separate
occasions by the National Assembly.

In his words, "We have built democracy for 20 years, yet, it is
difficult to conduct free and fair elections.

"Moneybags, moral deficit and violence has characterised most of our
elections. There is no credibility and transparency in line with the
global best practice.

"With the Buhari's delay in signing the electoral amendment bill into
law, violence, ballot snatching and killings may take over the 2019
general elections "