INEC apologises to NAF over wrongful accusation of Rivers polls disruption

The Independent National Electoral Commission has apologized to
the Nigerian Air Force for wrongfully accusing it of using its
personnel to invade its premises in Rivers State and disrupt the
collation of results in the protracted governorship and House of
Assembly polls.

It will be recalled that the Spokesman for the INEC in Rivers
State had accused the NAF and other security agencies of invading
its collation centre and disrupting the exercise thereby forcing it
to discontinue the declaration of results, a development that is
currently generating tension across the country and beyond.

But apparently realizing its mistake, INEC said on Tuesday that
it had discovered that none of the NAF personnel was involved in
the chaos that was recorded in the premises at the weekend leading
to the suspension of poll results collation and announcement.

In the statement absolving NAF entitled: “Inadvertent
Involvement of the Nigerian Air Force in the Disruption of the
March 9 2019 Collation Process”, INEC said it also discovered that
the men in military uniforms were neither not from the NAF.

The statement which was made available to newsmen on Tuesday was
signed by the Head of Voter Education in Rivers State, Mr. Edwin
Enabor for the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Obo Effanga.

The statement said: “Further to our investigation and
clarification from the NAF Command in Rivers State on the invasion
of our offices/disruption of collation process by armed men in
military uniforms, the commission wishes to state that the persons
purported to have worn the Air Force uniforms were neither
personnel of the service nor authorized by the service to be at
INEC office.

“The commission therefore wishes to express its regret at the
embarrassment this might have caused the NAF,” INEC said.

The apology by INEC notwithstanding, its earlier claim at the
weekend that military personnel took over its premises and hijacked
the collation of results, has gone viral and attracted global
attention, forcing some countries to issue threats against
Nigeria.

COAS, Buratai Receives UAE Ambassador at Army
Headquarters

The Ambassador of the United Arab Emirate (UAE) to the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Fahad Obaid Mohammad Altaffag
has paid a visit to the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lt Gen Tukur
Yusuf Buratai today the 12th of March 2019, at his office in Army
Headquarters Abuja.

The ambassador thanked the COAS for the warm reception accorded
him despite numerous schedules.

According to him “I am here to again familiarise myself with the
Army Headquarters under your purposeful leadership and to
see/explore areas for further collaboration for the mutual benefits
of our countries and our armies”.

In his remarks at the occasion, the COAS, on behalf of all the
officers and soldiers of the Nigerian Army, thanked the ambassador
and the good people of the Emirate for the visit and assured him of
the NA willingness to continue partnering with the UAE especially
in the areas of military training, military hardware/ equipment, NA
Aviation and Counter terrorism as well as collaboration/ investment
in the silent revolution going on in agriculture through the
Nigerian Army Farms and Ranches and Nigerian Army Welfare Guarantee
Limited for the benefits of both nations/armies.

Principal Staff Officers in army Headquarters attended the
event.

SAGIR MUSA
Colonel
Acting Director Army Public Relations
12th March 2019