Our Reporter
The Enugu State House of Assembly has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate military excesses, intimidation and harassment in the state during
March 18th Governorship/State Assembly elections.
This was contained in a motion of urgent public importance presented at the plenary in Enugu on Tuesday by the member representing Nsukka East constituency, Mr Chinedu Nwamba.
Nwamba argued that the constitutional role of the Military as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, chapter 6. Part 3. Section 217 sub section 2a and 2b, was to defend Nigeria from external aggression.
Nwamba said that other roles of the military was to maintain the territorial integrity of the the country and securing its borders from external aggression.
He said that on March 17, Enugu State citizens woke up to notice the heavy deployment of combat-ready fierce-looking AK47-wielding Soldiers in all the 17 local government areas as they manned strategic locations.
The lawmaker explained that heavy armoured vehicles and high military armaments as though they were headed for war were also seen on the March 18, the day of the Guber and State Houses of Assembly elections.
He, however, said that the manhandling and flagrant intimidation especially of members and supporters of the ruling party during the elections to provide cover for the electoral heist that went down in the state calls for a deeper concern.
“It was also more worrisome and ignoble how the armed forces and security agencies were enabling the electoral brigandage and fraud, including the abduction of electoral officers, and the inflation of votes under duress.
“Others include barricading of collation centres especially in all the LGA headquarters of INEC and refusing agents and officials of the ruling party entrance into the centres.
“Whereas, other party agents and supporters has unfettered access to the centres where election results from various wards were rigged against the ruling party,” he said.
Accepting the motion, the speaker of the assembly, Chief Edward Ubosi, urged President Buhari to cause an inquisition and investigate the roles and excesses of the Military in the State during the elections, with a view to sanctioning anybody
found wanting to serve as a deterrent to others.
Ubosi condemned in strong terms the massive electoral malpractices and intimidation that marred the 2023 governorship and state assembly elections in
parts of Enugu State.
The speaker urged the National Assembly to confirm if there is an Act from her to deploy fully armed military personnel to Enugu State on March 18th.
