Stop involving military in elections

The much – anticipated 2019 General Elections may have come and gone, winners are no doubt still basking in the euphoria of their victories while the losers are licking the wounds of their defeat .
One thing that unfortunately reared its head during the 2019 elections was the involvement of the armed forces in the election. Their involvement was less noticed during the presidential elections but they became more visible, particularly in some states known for their violent political disposition, during the gubernatorial and state assembly elections.
Different reasons have been adduced for the involvement of the military in the polls. While some observers believe that military men were brought in to safeguard electoral materials in the states concerned, others posit that they were brought in for the safety of ballot papers and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission. One thing is however clear; the involvement of soldiers in the elections for whatever reasons is not good for the image of the country.
We believe that their involvement in politics or election is symptomatic of the fact that in spite of Nigeria’s 20 years of post-military democracy, the country is yet free from military meddling in politics.
Media reports indicated that army personnel took over the collation centres in some parts of the country, particularly in Asari-Toru, Akuku-Toru, Eleme, Opobo-Nkoro and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State. They were said to have denied some INEC-accredited agents access to the collation centres.
It was also alleged that soldiers forcefully invaded the Khana Local Government Council lodge and held all those inside hostage. If the reports were true, it is inconceivable why INEC-accredited agents were barred from the collation centre, thus putting to risk their parties’ acceptance of whatever result that came out of the collating centre.
When contacted for his reactions, the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Nigerian Army was said to have refused to comment on allegations that soldiers barred agents of some political parties from collation centres. He, however, said that the army would investigate alleged infractions of soldiers in the elections.
It is sad that soldiers were invited in some areas to be involved in the security of ballot papers. Such involvement of soldiers has the effect of soiling their good names as that is not their calling and they are not used to the maddening behaviour of the political class. Besides, soldiers are human beings and have their sympathies. Their action and inaction at the collating centres could mar the political chances of some contesting politicians.
But, far more important is that if care is not taken, such military involvement in the political process may again cut short the life of democracy in the country. By giving solders a role to play in elections, those who invited them were indirectly telling the military that the political class cannot play politics without having soldiers around. If anything, it is like having camaraderie with a live crocodile or having soldiers as umpires to sort things out when the political class cannot agree among themselves.
A lot of arguments have been canvassed as to why soldiers ought to have been left in their barracks rather than being dragged out to provide security for INEC personnel and sensitive materials during electoral process. Recall that lack of trust among the political class was among the reasons for the sack of the First Republic by soldiers. This, among others, is why it is dangerous for the country’s democracy to invite soldiers to meddle in politics in whatever form.
It is doubtful if the election has anything to do with the security of the nation. That, being so, soldiers ought not to have been invited to take any part in the election.
Besides, soldiers are used to command structure. They are not used to being ordered around by civilians. So, it will be difficult for any soldier to take orders from any INEC official or even INEC chairman during election process.
This, among others, is why the police and other para-military personnel are just enough to ensure that elections are safely conducted and that they are free and fair.
There is no doubting that the nation must have learnt its lessons from the last elections. The lessons learnt must be useful in the conduct of future elections. One is that INEC should never tell the nation that it is ready to conduct election when it is not fully prepared for the elections.
If INEC was fully prepared for the elections, it ought to know that involvement of soldiers who have their own constitutional duty to perform ought not to have been invited to play any role in the election process.