The Transition Monitoring Group on Wednesday asked President Goodluck Jonathan and the Independent National Electoral Commission not to further postpone the general elections.

The TMG, in a statement by its Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Zikirullahi, warned that any attempt to change the dates of the elections would be resisted by Nigerians.

It alleged that the Federal Government and some other persons in the ruling party have “been pushing the military further into partisan political terrain, in a manner that portends grave danger to our democracy.”

While condemning the alleged surveillance of the homes of opposition politicians, the TMG said the Federal Government is eroding its legitimacy if it does not desist from such an act

The group also advised the Army to probe a leaked audio which linked some People’s Democratic Party leaders to the alleged rigging of the governorship elections in Ekiti State.

The statement read, “The contents of a recently leaked audio tape, which allegedly presented an unholy alliance between the military and some politicians during the Ekiti governorship election should be investigated. If the content of this tape is anything to go by, and the culprits therein are not brought to book, the same scenario may well be expected in the 2015 elections.

“While the TMG is still in the process of investigating these claims, we call on the military to immediately speak and explain to Nigerians the roles of the officers identified in the tape.   Silence in this matter will not be taken as golden; we insist the military should immediately speak up on this issue to clear the air and save its sinking reputation.

“It is disturbing that the military, an institution that should at every point be seen as a symbol of Nigeria’s national unity, has allowed itself to be dragged into the partisan arena, to the extent that Nigerians are increasingly losing confidence in it.”

The group called on political parties to stop paying lip service to the quest for peace by ensuring they denounce supporters that engage in violence.

Source: PUNCH