The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday rejected the routine deployment of troops of the armed forces during elections, saying the Force should remain exceptional.

The electoral body specifically said the deployment of the military should arise only where prevailing security conditions require armed forces’ support in aid of the civil authorities.

The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, who spoke through the Director of Legal at the Commission, Al-Hassan Umar stated this at Army War College, Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a seminar.

According to the INEC chairman, the Constitution clearly defines the roles of institutions involved in election management, arguing that the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security.

The electoral body boss said, “As both a teacher and practitioner of the law, permit me to begin by reaffirming the constitutional framework governing election security in Nigeria.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly delineates the responsibilities of institutions involved in the electoral process.

“INEC is constitutionally mandated to organise, undertake and supervise elections, while the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security under the framework of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.

“The role of the Armed Forces is exceptional rather than routine. Their deployment arises only where prevailing security conditions require military support in aid of the civil authorities and strictly in accordance with the Constitution and other applicable laws.”

The Osun State Police Command has released the Secretary to the State Government, SSG Mr Teslim Igbalaye, from its custody.

Igbalaye was arrested along with five others for allegedly committing vote-buying-related offences, as the police claimed it recovered Permanent Voter’s Cards, PVCs, cash sums and a voters’ register from his house.

The police also identified the other suspects arrested at the residence as Abiodun Arowomole, popularly known as “Ashipa”, who was described as a wanted murder suspect on the command’s watch list, alongside Taiwo Akande, Lukman Adeyemo, Muftau Olaoye, and Musiliu Aderemi.

The command’s spokesperson DSP Abiodun Ojelabi said the SSG has been released this afternoon, but the investigation is ongoing in the matter.

“I can only tell you that the SSG, Mr Teslim Igbalaye, has been released this afternoon, and the investigation is still ongoing,” he informed newsmen following enquires.

A Shari’ah court judge, Mohammed Muktar, narrowly escaped death or possible abduction on Wednesday after suspected bandits invaded a courtroom in Gwarjo village, Matazu Local Government Area of Katsina State.

Report says the attack occurred around midday on Wednesday, when the armed men stormed the court premises, fired sporadically and demanded to know the whereabouts of the judge.

Residents narrated that Mohammed Muktar spotted the approaching gunmen from a distance and quickly escaped through a window moments before they reached the courtroom.

“The bandits entered the courtroom, shooting indiscriminately and repeatedly asking where the judge was. Fortunately, he had already escaped through the window, and a commercial motorcyclist helped him flee before they arrived,” a resident said.

Another eyewitness said the attackers became enraged after discovering that the judge had escaped and threatened to kill him if he ever returned to preside over court proceedings in the community.

The latest incident has heightened fears among residents of Gwarjo, a community that has repeatedly suffered attacks by bandits.