The Nigerian Army has reacted to a viral video showing a heated exchange between its personnel and Anambra State Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, during Saturday’s governorship election in Awka, describing the circulating clip as “misleading and taken out of context.”
In the video, which flooded social media platforms on Sunday, Dr. Ibezim was seen questioning the presence of uniformed soldiers at Ukwu Oji Umubele, Awka Ward 5. The deputy governor demanded to know who authorised their deployment and whether they had any legal role in the electoral process.
A voice in the background could be heard alleging that the soldiers attempted to seize election materials and kidnap presiding officers, a claim the Army has strongly denied.
Reacting through its Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lieutenant Colonel Olabisi Ayeni, the Army said the troops were on a rescue mission following a distress call from National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members and Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials who were allegedly held hostage by suspected political thugs.
According to Ayeni, “At about 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, an officer of the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) received a distress call from corps members and INEC staff who reported that they were being held hostage by suspected political thugs. The report followed the unexplained disappearance of the collation officer assigned to the polling unit.”
He added that in line with the Army’s constitutional duty to support civil authorities and protect citizens, a quick response team comprising two officers and twelve soldiers was immediately dispatched to the scene.
“On arrival, the troops met a chaotic situation involving several political figures, including the deputy governor. Despite the tension and provocation, our personnel maintained maximum professionalism and restraint, successfully rescuing the corps members and INEC officials,” the Army spokesperson said.
The statement further noted that the rescued officials were escorted safely to the INEC office where collation continued without further incident.
Ayeni stressed that the deployment was purely for humanitarian and security purposes. “The operation had nothing to do with interference in the election. Any contrary interpretation is baseless, misleading, and regrettable,” he said.
The Army maintained that the video circulating online lacked context and failed to show the real events that led to the deployment. It also revealed plans to engage with the Anambra State Government to improve coordination in future election-related security operations.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to neutrality, professionalism, and the protection of democratic institutions. We urge the public to disregard false narratives and continue to support efforts to ensure peaceful elections,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, reactions have continued to trail the incident on social media. While some Nigerians applauded the soldiers for responding swiftly to the distress call, others questioned the extent of military involvement in electoral operations.
Civil rights groups have also called for clearer communication between security agencies and electoral bodies to prevent future misunderstandings that could heighten political tensions during polls.
