The military’s has commenced the probing of some of its officers and men involved in the 2014 governorship elections in Osun and Ekiti states respectively.
The commencement of the probe was disclosed on Monday in Kaduna by a five-man panel of officers led by the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade.
The five man panel will also probe the involvement of some officers in electoral malpractices during the general elections.
Col. Sani Usman had last month in a statement revealed that the military would probe the involvement of its officers in the last elections so as to prevent future recurrences.
It was learnt that the then ruling party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, allegedly used the army to aid its victory in the June 21, 2014 Ekiti governorship poll.
The panel which will sit at the headquarters of 1 Division Nigerian Army in Kaduna, has Col. Danladi Salihu as the panel secretary.
Other members of the panel are: Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Kabuk, Brig. Gen. Sunday Araoye, and Brig. Gen. Baba Ibrahim.
The panel president stated that it will submit its report within the next two weeks to Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
Oyebade said: “As most of you are aware, the last general elections conducted in March 2015 elicited criticism in some quarters, especially from the general public, particularly in the conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel during the governorship and presidential elections.
“These allegations were centred on the governorship elections conducted in some states such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom, to mention but a few.
“It is therefore based on all these weighty allegations that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai on assumption of Command, articulated his vision of having a professionally responsive Nigerian Army in the discharge of its constitutional roles, instituted this Board of Inquiry.
“The panel is to investigate these allegations and recommend appropriate measures to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.
“The military as a noble profession of arms must remain apolitical in our democratic dispensation. Politics, we strongly believe should be left entirely to the politicians.
“I must hasten to add however, that in spite of these worrisome allegations, the military as to a large extent performed creditably as the foremost guardian of the nation’s democracy.
“On this note, I will like to call on all the strata in the society and of course, the general public to please as a matter of urgency, appear in person if they so wish and forward their petitions in form of memorandum either personally to Headquarters 1 Division Nigerian Army, Kawo, Kaduna or via courier addressed to the secretary, panel of investigation on elections, HQ 1Division, Kawo, Kaduna”.
Oyebade further called on individuals with useful information to visit the panel and testify, adding that the investigation is open to the public even though it is purely a military affair.
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