Polls: Military needed in emergency, says INEC

The Independent National Electoral Commission has said the military and other security agencies will be used where they are needed within the confines of the law and the Military Act to maintain peace during the polls.

The commission also stated that it had engaged the services of over 700,000 ad hoc workers to conduct the forthcoming general elections scheduled for March 28 and April 11.

The INEC’s Director of Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Organisations, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, stated this on Monday in Abuja, in an interview with The PUNCHduring a workshop organised by the Centre for Creative Leadership and Sustainable Development, with the support of Friedrich Ebert Stiftung. The occasion has the theme, “Youth Vote-2015: A Turning Point.”

While advising youths to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards, he said they should steer clear of acts that could pose a serious threat to a free and fair election.

He said, “Over 700,000 youths will be engaged as ad hoc officers in the forthcoming elections because there will be, at least, one Assistant Presiding Officer and three Assistants. There will be at least four officials in every polling unit. And a polling unit that has more than 750 registered voters will split into other voting points and each one will have four workers and we have over 750,000. So if you do the calculation, over 750,000 will participate as presiding officers and APOs.”

Osaze-Uzzi also stated that contrary to the falsehood that had been in public domain, no Nigerian was against the use of security operatives in the forthcoming general elections.

“Everybody is emphasizing the use of security. Every security outfit will perform its statutory responsibilities, including the military which has its own statutory obligations. They will participate in the elections. Theirs is outer cordon and ensuring public safety and going against insurrection.

“The military supports civil agencies which are to be used for elections. They are part of inter-agency committee on election security. Their role is legal, statutory and constitutional and they give back their roles where there is a shortfall and where others can’t cope with emergency situations,” he stated.

Asked whether the presence of the military would not contravene the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, he said the verdict was “self explanatory.”

He said, “The Court of Appeal judgment said the military had a statutory role but they should stick to their statutory role and not go to the polling units. They are needed in the outer perimeter cordon, to guide our borders, public buildings and in instances where the police are over-stretched and where there is imminent threat of a breakdown of law, order and insurrection.

“The Armed Forces Act and constitution have spelt out the role of the military. INEC is using the Police, Civil Defence, Immigration, SSS and other para-military agencies.

“There will be one security personnel in every polling unit across the country. Armed policemen will be on patrol outside the polling units.”

Meanwhile, the General Officer Commanding, 2nd Mechanised Division, Ibadan, Maj. Gen. Sanusi Mu’azu, has said that soldiers will not intimidate or harass genuine voters during the coming elections.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday by the media aide to the Osun State Governor, Mr. Semiu Okanlawon, after the   GOC paid a courtesy visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

He said, “The military will not, in any way, intimidate or harass the electorate during the March and April elections.

“We will do everything possible to ensure that security is provided. We cannot do otherwise, than to protect civilians. It is the taxpayers’ money that we depend on. We will do everything to make sure that lives and property are well protected.

“It is a familiar terrain that we are in. I have served in the region in various capacities; I can as well charge the people of Osun to sleep with their two eyes closed because the election will be free, fair and credible with the provision of adequate security.”