Elections: Jonathan has no power to deploy soldiers – Sagay

Arguments against the decision of Federal Government to deploy soldiers for election duties, yesterday, received another boost, as front line constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay, said the constitution does not permit the President to do so.

According to Sagay, in a statement issued to newsmen on Thursday, the constitution only empowers the President to deploy the armed forces “for the defence of Nigeria from external aggression, protecting our territorial integrity and for suppressing internal insurrection in aid of civil authorities.

“I have watched with utter amazement as lawyers and non-lawyers have continued to misinterpret the scope of the President’s powers to deploy our armed forces, as provided for in Sections 217 and 218 of the Constitution.

“Section 218 is not an independent section. It is qualified by Section 217, which clearly lays out the circumstances and conditions under which our armed forces can be deployed. These are: i) for the defence of Nigeria from external aggression. ii) Also for the maintenance of the territorial integrity and securing the borders of Nigeria from violation on land, sea and air, and (iii) for suppressing insurrection and acting in aid of civil authorities to restore order when called upon to do so by the President; subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.”

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