In spite of the judgment of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, and the Federal High Court, Sokoto, which declared the deployment of soldiers for election duties as illegal, the Nigerian Army has said it will be involved in the 2015 general elections.
Brigadier General Koko Essien, according to Punch, made this known on February 19, Thursday, in Port Harcourt while speaking with newsmen.
General Essien who is also the 2 Brigade Commander/Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, warned political thugs to steer clear from the exercise as the Army will not fail to deal decisively with any one caught fomenting trouble.
The general said the military involvement was necessary to ensure that the 2015 election was conducted without hitch.
He pointed out that the military was strategising to ensure the elections were peaceful, noting level volatility in Rivers State.
He said: ”We are seeing a trend whereby there is a lot of volatility in the security situation in Rivers State and we are doing everything and strategising to make sure things work in the state.”
He urged the people of the state to feel free to come out and exercise their franchise on the day of election, promising that adequate security measures would be put in place.
“We will be involved in the election to the extent that is allowed by law. We are having meeting with INEC and we are going to support INEC based on the requirement of the law. We are going to support the police based on the areas they (police) are lacking. If the law says we are not going to be at the polling booths, we will not be there.
“We have had incidences of political thuggery. Different political groups have carried out certain actions that are inimical to the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections. Besides that, there has been some increase in the level of kidnapping on our waterways and sea piracy of course.
“The security services and specifically, the military will not condone any act of political thuggery or any action by anybody in the state aimed at frustrating well-meaning citizens from going out to vote during the elections.
General Essien assured that the military will do everything within our means to ensure that people are safe and vote without intimidation.
Several politicians are opposed to the use of the military for election duties. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in a letter dated February 16 to President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, notified them to obey the court judgment barring the involvement of military personnel in the forthcoming general elections.
Brigadier General Koko Essien, according to Punch, made this known on February 19, Thursday, in Port Harcourt while speaking with newsmen.
General Essien who is also the 2 Brigade Commander/Sector 2 Joint Task Force, Operation Pulo Shield, warned political thugs to steer clear from the exercise as the Army will not fail to deal decisively with any one caught fomenting trouble.
The general said the military involvement was necessary to ensure that the 2015 election was conducted without hitch.
He pointed out that the military was strategising to ensure the elections were peaceful, noting level volatility in Rivers State.
He said: ”We are seeing a trend whereby there is a lot of volatility in the security situation in Rivers State and we are doing everything and strategising to make sure things work in the state.”
“We will be involved in the election to the extent that is allowed by law. We are having meeting with INEC and we are going to support INEC based on the requirement of the law. We are going to support the police based on the areas they (police) are lacking. If the law says we are not going to be at the polling booths, we will not be there.
“We have had incidences of political thuggery. Different political groups have carried out certain actions that are inimical to the smooth conduct of the upcoming elections. Besides that, there has been some increase in the level of kidnapping on our waterways and sea piracy of course.
“The security services and specifically, the military will not condone any act of political thuggery or any action by anybody in the state aimed at frustrating well-meaning citizens from going out to vote during the elections.
General Essien assured that the military will do everything within our means to ensure that people are safe and vote without intimidation.
Several politicians are opposed to the use of the military for election duties. The All Progressives Congress (APC) in a letter dated February 16 to President Goodluck Jonathan and the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, notified them to obey the court judgment barring the involvement of military personnel in the forthcoming general elections.
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