Don't Drag Military in Politics, DHQ Tells PDP *Says military won’t tolerate violation of code

* To probe attacks on personnel in Niger Delta

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) on Tuesday said the military would not be dragged  into politics but would remain focused on the peaceful conduct of the remaining elections.

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had accused the military of taking sides with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the February 23  presidential and National Assembly elections and vowed to report the matter to the  United Nations(UN).

Also, the DHQ warned military personnel against violation of the code of conduct guiding the elections even as it said it would take a position on the attacks on military personnel in Bayelsa State which led to the death of some soldiers and other allegations and counter allegations against  soldiers, after an exhaustive investigation would have been conducted.

This is coming as the Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson, paid a visit to the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, at the Army Headquarters in Abuja.

In an exclusive chat with journalists  Defence spokesman, Colonel Onyema

Nwachukwu, said the military would not be involved in the murky

politics of Nigeria.

"I will like to be very categorical that the Armed Forces of Nigeria

is very apolitical. This position cannot be compromised.

"Our role in the Constitution is to defend the territorial integrity

of Nigeria and to act in aid of civil authority when called upon to do

so.

"I want to make it clear that military personnel who are involved in

the security architecture of the electoral process are guided by a

code of conduct, a violation of which cannot be condoned by the

leadership of the armed forces", he said.

While assuring of the commitment of the military to discharge its

duties, he said it would be premature to comment on the violence that

took place during the last elections without exhaustive investigation.

"It is premature to indict anyone without conducting investigation.

Currently, the armed forces of Nigeria is focused on ensuring that we

support the lead agencies in the electoral process to provide adequate

security during the conduct of the election", he said.

On the show of force parade in Akwa Ibom State by the military, an

otherwise peaceful state, Nwachukwu said the parade was a deterrent

for "would be law breakers".

"There is nothing wrong with a show of force parade. There are people

who want to abuse the rights of others during the election. It is not

for law abiding citizens.

On the killing of soldiers in Bayelsa, he said exhaustive investigation would be conducted.

"It is unfortunate that those things happened but like I told you we

want to do exhaustive investigation. If people can be so brazen to

attack troops on duty, it is most unfortunate and needs to be condemned.

"Nobody deserves to die in this election  whether security agents or

civilians", he said.

Meanwhile, Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, paid a visit to

the Chief of Army Staff yesterday afternoon.

Details of the visit were not made available but media checks showed

that the visit was not unconnected with the killing of three soldiers

in the state during the last election.