Army To Deploy Military For Rivers Polls …Reps Defer Debate On Troops Use

The Nigerian Army said it would provide security for election materials and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) during and after the forthcoming elections in Rivers State.
Commander, 2 Brigade, Port Harcourt, Brig-Gen. Koko Essien disclosed this yesterday while addressing newsmen in Port Harcourt.
He said the Army was willing to deploy troops on ground and on waterways to subvert any form of ballot box snatching and violence at the request of INEC.
“We have a mandate to support the success of these elections, and so, my men will provide security to INEC officials and materials on ground and waterways in a constitutional manner.
“Come March 28 and April 11, people should feel free and come out to vote any candidate of their choice because we are working with other sister security services to provide a top notch security”, he said.
According to Essien, the military and particularly the Army, will not condone any act of political thuggery by anyone in the state to subvert the forthcoming elections, as  he  urged the people to come out en-masse and participate in the elections, saying that security would be tight.
Essien, who recently assumed command of the brigade, said the army had adopted new strategies to be able to drastically reduce oil theft, pipeline vandalism and rising cult activities in the state.
He called for media partnership and support in the fight against oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the state.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives yesterday suspended the debate on the deployment of military personnel for election purposes in the country.
The House had been considering the issue following a motion by its Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos).
In the motion, Gbajabiamila said it was unconstitutional for military personnel to be deployed for election duties in the country.
He also prayed the house to investigate the role of the military during the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti, stating that the use of military personnel at election centres may intimidate the electorate.
According to him, the presence of military personnel in polling units and wards is capable of generating unwarranted apprehension that will scare away innocent citizens.
The lawmaker said that the action was capable of preventing voters from peacefully and wilfully exercising their franchise.
In his contribution, Rep. Sunday Karimi (Kogi-PDP) said that the matter which the motion sought to address could not be debated because it was in court.
“This matter is still a subject of litigation at the Supreme Court,’’ Karimi said.
Ruling on the issue, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, directed the Committees on Rules and Business, Judiciary and Justice, to advise him on the matter.
“In view of the sensitivity of the matter and the unfolding events in the country, please I want us to take this matter very seriously. I will therefore direct committees on Rules and Business, Judiciary and Justice to advice the speaker, and come back to the house on Tuesday,” Tambuwal said.

Executive Director, RSSDA, Noble Pepple (left) presenting a souvenir to a Ist Class Law graduate of Rivers overseas scholarship scheme, Daniel Nlemogu at an event in Port Harcourt, recently