Reps probe deployment of soldiers in elections

Henry Omunu, Abuja

Following allegations of misuse of soldiers during the general elections in River state and other parts of the country, the House of Representatives on Tuesday passed a resolution to set up a special panel to investigate the alleged abuses committed by the soldiers.

Passing a resolution yesterday after debating a motion of urgent public importance, the House resolved as a matter of urgency, to set up an ad hoc committee to carry out a holistic, detailed, comprehensive and far reaching investigation of the deployment, use, misuse and abuses of the soldiers in the 2019 elections and other elections.

The special panel is expected to make appropriate recommendations to the House within four weeks.

Debating the motion, Rep. Patrick Asada, expressed concern at the heavy militarization of the polity during the just concluded general polls and previous elections in Ekiti, Osun states.

He explained that the 1999 Constitution as amended and the Armed Forces Act were clear on the structure, management and operations of the military and wondered why the military authorities were adamant in abusing not only its own laws, but the constitution.

Rep. Asada listed three separate court judgements which ruled against the deployment of soldiers during elections without recourse to the National Assembly while also, drawing attention to the Court of Appeal rulings on the same subject matter.

He faulted the Chief of Army Staff, Lt Gen. Yusuf Buratai’s position that the army was obeying the order of the President and commander –in- chief to shoot and kill ballot box snatchers, without recourse to existing laws and court rulings against the deployment of soldiers.

According him, while INEC has indicted the army over their conduct in the Rivers governorship election, the claims by the army that it was fake soldiers that were on rampage across the country was untenable and an indictment on their capacity to perform their statutory responsibilities

He warned that it was dangerous to drag the military into partisan politics on purely civilian contests as such action and inactions were dangerous to democracy.

Meanwhile, President Muhammed Buhari has declined assent to two bills, the Chartered Institute of Development and Training as well as the Nigerian Aeronautics Research and Rescue Bill. In declining, the President explained that the institute do not have the capacity for the responsibilities contained in the legislation.

On the Aeronautics Research and Rescue Bill, Buhari declined his assent on the grounds that the agency will duplicate NEMA and other existing regulatory agencies in the aviation sector

Thereafter, the House suspended plenary to concentrate on the engagement of ministries, departments and government agencies in the defense of their 2019 budget estimates.