Nigerian Army Threatens INEC

 

A new report has emerged of how the top hierarchy of the Nigerian military have threatened the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that no personnel of the army will be available to provide security all over the nation for the February 14 presidential election if the commission insists on going on with the scheduled date of the election.

According to Daily Trust, the army said its decision is debased on its operations in the North East region.

The military service chiefs had reportedly already advised INEC in writing to postpone the polls for at least six weeks earlier.

The letter was sent to INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega on Wednesday by the National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki (rtd). In the letter, Dasuki said he was “strongly advising” INEC to postpone the forthcoming polls on the basis of a letter he received from Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.

Badeh’s letter to Dasuki, which the NSA affirmed had the backing of all security service chiefs,  said the military had just launched a major effort with the collaboration of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic to rid the North East region of Boko Haram insurgents once and for all. He said while the operation lasts, it will not be possible to hold elections in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Gombe states.
The CDS therefore advised the NSA to advise INEC to either not hold elections in the four states or  postpone elections throughout the country for at least six weeks. He clearly indicated that the military preferred the second option.

Even though the commission’s boss  had told the National Council of State that INEC was ready to go ahead with the elections as schedule, he  added that  INEC had received a new security report which could change the commission’s plan but he did not explain further.

 

Speaking, Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth Minimah said, if INEC decides to go ahead with the polls next week there will be no soldiers available anywhere to provide election security.

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