Ekiti, Osun Elections; Army to probe soldiers involvement in alleged polls fraud

By Blogger, 

A soldier of the  Nigeria Army and his dog
During a election campaign rally 

In what appeared to be in  tune with the zero tolerance to indiscipline of Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, the army has set up a formidable panel to investigate soldiers involvement in cases of electoral fraud alleged to have been perpetrated  during the recently conducted governorship elections in two southwest states of the country.

The probe is to be carried out by a Board of Inquiry (BOI) whose job specification is to ascertain or prove otherwise the allegations that soldiers were used to doctor polls outcome that helped to enthrone governments that are in force in Ekiti and Osun states.

The Spokesman of the nation's army,  who is an Acting Director Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, made this known in a statement issued to this blog.

"The Nigerian Army has set up a high powered Board of Inquiry (BOI) to investigate among other things alleged malpractices and involvement of its personnel in Ekiti and Osun States Gubernatorial Elections in 2014", said Colonel Usman.

"The BOI is to investigate the alleged unprofessional and unethical conduct of some Nigerian Army personnel in Ekiti and Osun States' Gubernatorial Elections 2014, as well as in any other State in Nigeria where other allegations of misconduct were made during the 2015 General Elections in the country.

"As part of its Terms of Reference, the BOI is to also review the involvement of the Nigerian Army formations/units and its personnel in elections and other duties in aid to civil authority.

"The essence of the Board is to prevent future unprofessional conduct by officers and men in the performance of the constitutional roles while strengthening Nigerian Army's support to democratic values and structures in Nigeria".

Though the army had clearly stated that it's action would merely be an in-house disciplinary measures that is being strengthened by the COAS, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, to forestall reccurrence, there are expectations, however, that should culprits be found guilty, the states in question may suffer a spill over effect of the BOI reports.

Experts said the army will achieve two things; "redeeming it's image that had been badly affected by actions and inactions of past government, and also inadvertently  set a fresh tune in the quest for justice in the two states.