House Of Rep Stand On Using Military For Election

The House of Representatives have done something beyond comprehension about the debate on whether or not to deploy military personnel for the country’s general elections. 

The House had been debating the issue on Thursday, but reportedly suspended the debate, Nigerian Pilot reports.

The motion was brought before the lawmakers by the House minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos).

In the motion, Gbajabiamila said it was unconstitutional for military personnel to be deployed for election purposes in the country.

The minority leader also asked the house to investigate the role of the military during the 2014 governorship elections in Ekiti state, NAN reports.

He said that the use of military personnel at polling units may intimidate the electorate, adding that the presence of military personnel in election centres and wards is capable of generating unwarranted apprehension that will scare away innocent Nigerians.

He said the action was capable of preventing voters from peacefully and willingly exercising their franchise.

Meanwhile, contributing also to the motion, Rep Sunday Karimi (Kogi-PDP) pointed out that the issue cannot be debated by the House because the matter was already in court.

“This matter is still a subject of litigation at the Supreme Court,” Karimi said.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) has gone to court to seek the nullification of the Ekiti governorship election result because of alleged military involvement in the elections.

The Speaker of the House, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, while ruling on the issue, ordered the Committees on Rules and Business, Judiciary and Justice, to advise him on the matter.

“In view of the sensitivity of the matter and the unfolding events in the country, please I want us to take this matter very seriously. I will therefore direct committees on Rules and Business, Judiciary and Justice to advice the speaker, and come back to the house on Tuesday,” Tambuwal said.

The speaker of the House of Representatives, who is the APC gubernatorial candidate in Sokoto state, has assured voters that next month’s general polls will be peaceful, free and fair.

Speaker Tambuwal formally defected from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in October 2014 to the APC, and a month later he joined the Sokoto governorship race on the platform of the opposition party.