hierarchy of the Nigerian military have
threatened the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC)
that no army personnel
will be made available throughout the country
to provide security for the February 14
presidential election if the commission insists
on going on with the scheduled date of the
election.
According to the Daily Trust, the army said its
decision is based 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.
The letter was sent to the 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” the INEC to postpone the
forthcoming polls on the basis of a letter he
received from the Chief of Defence Staff, Air
Chief Marshal Alex Badeh.
Badeh’s letter to Dasuki, which Dasuki
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 the Niger Republic to rid the
north east region of Boko Haram insurgents
once and for all. He said while the operation
lasted, it would not be possible to hold
elections in Adamawa, Yobe, Borno and Gombe
states.
Badeh therefore advised Dasuki to advise the
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 INEC chairman had told the
National Council of State that the INEC was
ready to go ahead with the elections as
scheduled, he added that the INEC had
received a new security report which could
change the commission’s plans, but he did not
explain further.
The Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen Kenneth
Minimah said that if the INEC decides to go
ahead with the polls next week there will be no
soldiers available anywhere to provide election
security.
