Elections Postponement: Nigerian Army Makes New Pledge

Following the postponement of the country’s general elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has made a new pledge.

Major-Gen Chris Olukolade of Nigerian military.

The pledge was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by the defence spokesman, Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade, a copy obtained by the Leadership.

Olukolade in the statement said the Nigerian military pledged not to get involved in party politics, adding that the decision was taken after concerns grew about its role in pushing for the country’s presidential election to be delayed by six weeks.

It would be recalled that the Nigerian military faced accusations of interference when the INEC chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, disclosed that the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki wrote to him (Jega) that unless INEC delay the earlier scheduled February 14 election, it cannot guarantee the security of its officials.

According to Olukolade, it was imperative to reassure Nigerians on military roles following the tension being generated by politicians in the ongoing political activities and recent developments, particularly in relation to electioneering, “it is important to reassure Nigerians that the military will remain professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations related to (elections).”

The defence spokesman, however, revealed that the military requested a six-week delays in order to enable the institution contain the Boko Haram insurgency in the northeastern part of the country.

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