Army Challenges PDP To Provide Evidence Of Its Involvement In Kaduna LG Elections

1 Division Nigerian Army, Kaduna has challenged the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Kaduna state chapter to back up their allegations of military’s involvement in the recently concluded Kaduna local government election with evidence instead of making a baseless and irresponsible conceived allegations.

This was contained in a statement issued to Tribune Online on Saturday, May 19, 2018, and signed by the Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Muhammad Dole.

The statement noted that the attention of the 1 Division has been drawn to a press release issued by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kaduna State Chapter, alleging the involvement of the General Officer Commanding, GOC, 1 Division Nigerian Army (NA), Major General M Mohammed in the recently concluded Local Councils elections in Kaduna State.

The statement opined that “this is a desperate move by either political party faction or an opposition party to blackmail to drag the military into party politics.

‘Previously it was a false allegation of the demolition of a party Secretariat and now direct involvement of the GOC. This allegation is totally baseless and irresponsibly conceived with an ill motive of tarnishing the image and personality of the GOC.

According to the statement, ‘The fact of the matter is that, on Friday 11 May 2018, General Mohammed was dutifully engaged in Kano, where he attended the burial rites of the late Sheikh Isyaka Rabiu and turbaning ceremony of Lieutenant General Abdulrahman Danbazau (rtd) (Minister of Interior) as BARADEN KANO.

Again, the statement disclosed, “On Saturday 12 May 2018, General Mohammed accompanied the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General TY Buratai to pay condolence visit to the families of late Sheikh Isyaka Rabiu in Kano and thereafter visited Depot NA in Zaria before returning to Kaduna in the evening after the conduct of the local Councils elections.

To this end, the statement maintained that the military personnel are conscious of their roles in the conduct of any election exercise and strictly abide by the code of conduct Likewise, military hierarchy always emphasises apolitical stance of its troops in all the occasions.