The Nigerian Army has pledged not to get involved in party politics after concerns grew about its role in pushing for the country's presidential election to be delayed by six weeks.
Defence spokesman Major-General Chris Olukolade has assured Nigerians that the military will remain professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations related to elections in the country.
Major General Olukolade said "the palpable tension being generated ... with regards to the roles of the Nigerian military in the ongoing political activities and recent developments, especially in relation to electioneering."
"It is important to reassure Nigerians that the military will remain professional, apolitical and non-partisan in all operations ... related to (elections)," he said in a statement.
The military faced accusations of interference when chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission Prof. Attahiru Jega revealed that the office of the National Security Adviser had written a letter to him saying that unless he delayed the Feb. 14 election, it could not guarantee security.
There have also been reports in the media that the military colluded with the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) to try to influence the election in Ekiti state in May, a claim the military has not directly commented on.
Nigeria’s decision to delay the poll on the advice of security forces has been seen as a worrying echo for some of the annulment of 1993's democratic vote by a military government.
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