2023 Elections and How the Military Again Proved its Mettle
The much anticipated 2023 general elections are now history. They were held in two batches: February 25 for the Presidential and National Assembly and March 18 for the Gubernatorial and State House of Assembly.
As expected, some cynics and prophets of doom already had concluded that the polls would not pass the test of credibility, fairness and transparency.
Amazingly, the event was a huge success, thanks to the robust synergy among all the stakeholders responsible for ensuring the conduct of this constitutional affair.
Among all, the security forces including the Police who serve as the lead agency, the military, civil defense, immigration, customs and host of others deserve a special commendation for providing security across the voting stations and beyond.
Specifically, professional conducts displayed by the men and women of Armed Forces of Nigeria did not go unnoticed as it has caught the attention of both local and international observes who couldn’t hide their appreciation and thus keep on extolling the military under the able leadership of Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Lucky Irabor.
The observers, under the aegis of the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-Economic Rights (CALSER), described the entire exercise as free and fair, adding that Nigerians exercised their franchise in a safe and secure environment.
In a statement by Princess Ajibola, the Centre admitted that pockets of violence were recorded in certain areas but the troops rose to the occasion in all the cases.
Ajibola recalled that the Chief of Defence Staff had promised Nigerians of hitch-free process devoid of intimidation, harassment, and oppression.
Prior to the elections, the CDS met with the military service chiefs and other security heads including the Inspector-General of Police, Director-General of DSS, Director-General of NIA, and the Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI) all in an effort to ensure a hitch-free outing.
I can personally attest to the fact the military were on the ground to provide support for the Police who are the lead security agency for the polls. They quickly respond to the drastic calls made to their hotlines by citizens who perceive a level of insecurity in their area. For example, Nigerian Army personnel were quick to take over polling units in Madobi LGA, Kano when some members of a particular political party attempted to disrupt the voting process and create chaos.
As a result, normalcy was restored and the electorates continued to cast their vote without fear of intimidation or any form of threats. Similar scenario were displayed by the military across insecurity prone areas during the exercise.
Additionally, there were increased surveillance and contingency actions to address areas with peculiar security challenges which made troublemakers and enemies of the country to get bloody noses for attempting to cause unrest and panic.
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Not only that, the security agents remain on the lookout for post electoral violence that could ultimately threaten the peace of the land. It is gratifying that the measures put in place by the military led to the thwarting of any form of security breaches after the polls.
Courtesy of these relentless efforts, the observers, therefore, rated the military highly, describing the security agencies as the heroes of the elections having stood strong to defend the nation’s democracy at all costs.
Meanwhile, the ‘Operation Safe Conduct’ which was activated for the elections yielded a lot of positives as it guided the Armed Forces.
However, in spite of these gallantries displayed by the military, there are still some certain unwarranted incidents that happened which almost posed a threat to the polls.
During the presidential poll, there were public disturbances in places like Goza in Borno state where reports had it that Boko Haram insurgents attacked voters, a situation that led to the disruption of the process.
However, their evil plan was foiled by troops on ground and normalcy was restored, such that the electorate continued casting their votes.
Again, it can be recalled how the troops of Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK) in Mafa, Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State, successfully repelled an early morning attack by suspected Islamic State of West Africa Provinces (ISWAP) fighters during gubernatorial election on Saturday, March 18, 2023.
Nevertheless, in spite of the security measures put in place by the relevant authorities, violence which has been traditionally part of the electoral process was observed in many areas which led to the disruption of the process. Public disorders were recorded in states like Lagos, Kano, Rivers, Kogi, Benue, Edo, Bayelsa, Imo, Bauchi and a host of others.
Unfortunately, it was reported how soldiers and policemen in Taraba State exchanged gunfire around the office of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), where votes in Saturday’s governorship election were being collated.
As a result, two police officers attached to the State Command were killed by soldiers while two others were wounded all courtesy of this unwarranted scuffle between personnel of the two security agencies.
There was also another report in which some soldiers beat the Member representing Buruku federal constituency in Benue State Hon. Kpam Sokpo, to a pulp on the eve of Governorship and Assembly elections in a hotel in Gboko, Benue State .
However, the members of the House of Representatives did not take the matter lightly as they have started an investigation in order to unravel the truth of the matter.
All in all, I will seize this opportunity to urge the military and other security agencies to maintain the momentum displayed during the election so as to eliminate remnants of terrorists and criminals across the country.
In the long run, the Defence Intelligence Agency, DIA, should continue its supportive role of providing the military with actionable intelligence aimed at curtailing the security threats.
MUKHTAR is the author of a book on “National Security Strategies” and is a staff writer with the Emergency Digest.
