A non-governmental
organisation, Watch Election,  has  absolved the Nigerian Army of complicity in the inconclusive gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State.
Watch Election’s National Coordinator, Mr Fez Chinweizu, in Port Harcourt said that the army should rather be commended for the display of professionalism during the poll.
According to him, the army was timely in its intervention in several trouble-prone areas of the state, especially at Oporoma in Southern Ijaw, Local Government Area.
Chinweizu said that the state would have witnessed more serious incidents but for the sound exhibition of military professionalism by the army.
“As a group that was deeply involved in the monitoring of the election, we make bold to say that the army did its best’’ he said.
He stated that instead of blaming the army, the police authorities should ensure better preparations of its men posted for election duties.
“It is worrisome that of about 200 policemen said to have been deployed to Southern Ijaw, only 50 of them had weapons, this is grossly inadequate.
“It showed clearly that the number of policemen posted to some areas was inadequate, they also did not have weapons to enable them work effectively.
“Thereafter, hoodlums with purportedly political affinity started shooting sporadically which led to the army intervening in the fracas that ensued,” he said.
Chinweizu said that about 200 policemen were stranded at a jetty in Yenagoa due to their inability to get boats to convey them to the area.
He said that by the time the army stabilised the situation that it was already 3pm, hence the extension of the election to December 6.
“If not for the army’s prompt intervention – the hoodlums’ intention was to scare everybody away including the INEC officials to enable them cart away election materials.
“Rumours making the round that five persons died are untrue. The five persons were only wounded and are currently receiving and responding to treatment,” he said.
Chinweizu noted that 15 suspects were arrested during the confrontation, while another 51 political thugs involved in election related offences were all in police custody.
The group said the presence of Gov. Seriake Dickson at Oporoma on the Election Day swelled tension in the area, advising that there should be restriction on movement of candidates.
According to him, inflammatory campaigns and incitement against the military that went round should be discouraged.
Chinweizu called on security agencies, particularly the police to provide adequate personnel to cover the 417 polling stations in Southern Ijaw on Election Day.