Osun rerun: Army speaks on its alleged interference

The Nigerian Army on Thursday denied reports that military personnel were deployed to Osun State to take over from the police and provide security during the ongoing governorship rerun election.

Recall that there was palpable tension in Osun on Wednesday ahead of the rerun election slated for Thursday, as hundreds of military personnel replaced police to provide security during the exercise.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Hassan Ifijeh Mohammed, the army said the report was false.

“The Nigerian Army is very much aware of its constitutional roles, therefore, cannot and will never usurp the roles of the Nigeria Police during elections,” the statement reads.

“When and wherever the Nigerian Army deploys during elections, it does so to complement the efforts of the Nigeria Police in providing security in aid to civil authority in conjunction with other security agencies.”

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Mission, United States Embassy in Nigeria, Mr. David Young, on Wednesday commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the decision to conduct a re-run election in Osun, saying it would enhance democracy.

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