Rivers Election: “Military was deployed to maintain law n order” - DHQ

The director of defence information, Rabe Abubakar, on Thursday, December 5, insisted that the military conducted itself professionally during the elections.

The defence headquarters has dismissed allegations from notable political parties that the military influenced the outcome of the December 10 legislative elections in Rivers state.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he said the military was non-partisan as its personnel were only deployed to flash points several kilometres away from election centres.

The defence spokesperson made the clarification when he visited the Rivers council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Port Harcourt.

He said: “The military involvement in the elections was only to prevent breakdown of law and order before, during and after the elections in the state,” the spokesman said.

Abubakar challenged political parties and individuals making the accusations of military partisanship in the elections to come up with credible evidence to back up their claims.

“The military has responsibility of securing lives of electorate to ensure they have a safe and conducive atmosphere to peacefully exercise their franchise.

“On the event of any default (by personnel), the military authority has internal mechanisms to discipline any indicted officer.

“The military will never condone any individual found wanting of professional misconduct and did not take side with any political party in the conduct of Rivers re-run elections,” he said.

Mr. Abubakar said the military was currently undergoing reforms with focus to be more open to the media and provide quick response to enquiries from journalists.

On the efforts to free the Chibok girls, he said the army would not disclose the whereabouts of the Chibok girls’ in order not to jeopardize their safety. 

Abubarkar, however, assured Nigerians that the military will do everything to rescue the girls.