The Defence Headquarters
reiterated on Friday that the role of the Armed Forces in the ongoing elections
is to support the police in providing security for voters to exercise their
franchise.
The Governorship and House of
Assemblies elections, as well as the Area Councils elections in the Federal
Capital Territory are scheduled to hold on Saturday.
Briefing journalists in Abuja
ahead of the elections, Onyema Nwachukwu, a colonel and acting Director of
Defence Information (DDI), said the military’s role in election is contained in
Section 271 of the 1999 constitution.
The section stipulates that the
military can be deployed to “assist the police in maintenance of law and order
during elections.’’
He said: “In carrying out this
onerous task, the Armed Forces of Nigeria is guided by the code of conduct and
rules of engagement that have been provided for military personnel deployed to
maintain security during elections.
“We assure Nigerians that in
tandem with our mandate, we will continue to compliment and support the efforts
of the Nigerian Police in ensuring that all abiding citizens of this nation and
members of the international community go about their legitimate duties and
obligations in an environment devoid of violence and insecurity.’’
Mr Nwachukwu restated the Chief
of Defence Staff’s (CDS), Abayomi Olonisakin directive that personnel had the
right to vote during the ongoing elections, but must approach polling units in
mufti.
“Additionally, any military
personnel who is not on election security duty found in military uniform on
election day will be arrested and sanctioned in accordance with military
justice system,’’ the CDS had said.
Mr Nwachukwu reminded commanders
to ensure that sanity prevailed in their areas of responsibility.
He said their assigned tasks
apart from ensuring security include the arrest of personnel in uniform but not
on election duty, adding that civilians caught in uniform would be treated as
impostor.
On soldiers killed by suspected
political thugs in some states during the February 23 elections, the DDI said
the military would not carry out reprisal attacks.
“In spite of the unfortunate
attacks on our personnel by political hoodlums during the last elections, the
armed forces of Nigeria, as a professional and reputable institution wishes to
reassure the public that no reprisal attack will be carried out by military
personnel, unit or formation.’’
He commiserated with the families
of the deceased soldiers, saying that no one, including military, civilians,
electoral officers or observers deserved to die for elections.
The DDI appealed to politicians
and their supporters to embrace peace and conduct themselves within the ambit
of the law.
“The Defence Headquarters
solicits the support and cooperation of Nigerians and the media toward the
sustenance of peace and security before, during and after the elections,’’ he
said.
(NAN)
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