The police’s use of tear gas on demonstrators at the National Assembly gate on Tuesday has drawn criticism from activist and former presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore.
He claims that the police operation amounts to a declaration of war against Nigerians.
In the ongoing Electoral Act revision, protesters rushed the National Assembly to voice their disapproval of the Senate’s ratification of both electronic transmission and manual collation of election results. As Naija News previously reported, the police used tear gas on the demonstrators.
After gathering at the National Assembly gate, the demonstrators attempted to enter the complex by force, which prompted the police to use tear gas canisters on them.
Sowore called the police action a direct assault on democracy while speaking to reporters on the spot.
This has resulted in a declaration of war against participatory democracy and against Nigerians. The police were utilizing compressed containers that pierce your skin for the first time. We’re urging Nigerians to go to the National Assembly because more than two persons have passed out,” he stated.
The demonstrators were only asking to enter the gallery during an emergency session, Sowore continued, claiming that everyone should be able to watch what’s happening in the National Assembly.
We wanted to know if they had access to the capitol hall when they came from another country. What is preventing us from entering our own National Assembly without being separated from the people’s alleged elected representatives? In order to keep an eye on what is within our rights as citizens, we must be present in the gallery where the emergency meeting is being held,” he stated.
The demonstrators went on to say that they will not back down until their goal is accomplished despite the police’s actions.
