Sergio D'Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain, declared:...

Sergio D'Elia, Secretary of Hands Off Cain, declared: "Obasanjo's re-election is today the best guarantee in Nigeria for the life of Amina Lawal and others who risk being sentenced to death by the political use of Sharia law as applied by the twelve northern states which have introduced it. Obasanjo's Nigeria is certainly not an advanced or complete democracy, but what is certain is that a Nigeria without Obasanjo would be closer to the past regime than a democratic future.
By reconfirming Obasanjo another step towards democracy has been taken, following almost 15 years of military regimes. Obasanjo's re-election will also have a positive effect towards the campaign for a UN moratorium on capital executions.
During a mission to Nigeria last October by Hands Off Cain, together with Italian and European parliamentarians, Olosegun Obasanjo declared he was "committed to fighting to save lives and would continue the campaign (for abolition) both nationally and internationally".
Hands Off Cain is also pleased with the election of noted human rights activist Abdul Oroh. Oroh, running with Obasanjo's People's Democratic Party, won in the constituency of Owan, in the state of Edo, and was elected to the house of representatives. Head of the Civil Liberties Organisation, Oroh backed Hands Off Cain's campaign against the boycotting of Miss World in Nigeria and, in November 2002, took part in the Transnational Radical Party Congress, becoming a member for the first time.