Military deployment for elections will weaken police –Gbajabiamila

The Minority Leader in the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, on Thursday pressed home the argument of the All Progressives Congress concerning the deployment of troops for the forthcoming 2015 elections.

Fielding questions from Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily crew, Mr Gbajabiamila noted that the matter, which caused a divide on the floor of the House on Wednesday, was still in court, adding that it was not the place of any individual or group to decide on it. A Federal High Court in Sokoto had ruled against the deployment of troops for the elections.

“Based on antecedents, there has been deployment of military in the past but now we have an intervention from the court – the only authority that has the right to interprete the constitution and nobody else”, he said, adding that “so, we are bringing that to the knowledge of the executive and even to the knowledge of the legislature itself.”

Further arguing against the deployment of troops, Gbajabiamila said that such a move will work against the Nigeria Police, which is the constitutionally accepted agency to oversee the electoral process.

He noted that the court must have considered the role of the police before deciding against the deployment.

“You don’t make your police force redundant. You don’t weaken an institution to strengthen another institution”, Gbajabiamila said.

“If there are circumstances that the military can be deployed, it will be clear in the constitution.”

He explained again that the presence of military in communities may dissuade people from leaving their houses even for regular activities.

Credit: channelstv.com

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