The Nigerian Army has explained its side of a viral video showing a confrontation between its personnel and the Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, during Saturday’s governorship election in Awka.
The video, shared widely online, showed the deputy governor questioning why soldiers were stationed at Ukwu Oji Umubele, Awka Ward 5. He demanded to know who sent them and whether they had any role in the election process. A voice in the background accused the soldiers of trying to seize election materials and abduct presiding officers, which the officer at the scene denied.
Reacting to the video in a statement on Sunday night, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, said the video misrepresented the real situation.
He explained that soldiers went to the area after receiving a distress call from National Youth Service Corps members and Independent National Electoral Commission staff who were reportedly being held hostage by political thugs following the sudden disappearance of the collation officer.
“At about 8:20 pm, an officer of the 302 Artillery Regiment received a distress call that corps members and INEC staff were in danger. In response, two officers and twelve soldiers were deployed to rescue them,” Ayeni stated.
He added that when the troops arrived, they met a tense atmosphere involving several political figures, including the deputy governor, who questioned their presence.
“Despite the tension and provocation, our troops remained professional and restrained. They successfully rescued the corps members and INEC officials and escorted them safely to the INEC office, where collation continued peacefully,” he said.
The Army noted that the viral video lacked full context, stressing that the operation was purely to protect lives and ensure the safety of election officials.
It described claims that the soldiers interfered with the voting process as “false and misleading,” and said it had taken note of the behavior of some political actors involved in the incident.
The Army also said it would engage the Anambra State Government to prevent such misunderstandings in future elections and reaffirmed its commitment to neutrality and the protection of democratic institutions.
