The Nigerian Army has issued a clarification over a viral video showing a confrontation between its personnel and the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, during Saturday’s governorship election in the state.

The footage, which circulated widely on social media, captured the deputy governor questioning the presence of soldiers at the Ukwu Oji Umubele polling centre in Awka Ward 5.

In the video, Ibezim was heard asking who authorised the soldiers’ deployment and whether they were permitted to be involved in the electoral process.

A voice in the background accused the troops of attempting to seize election materials and abduct presiding officers, an allegation immediately denied by the officer present.

In a statement released on Sunday night via its official X handle, the Acting Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82 Division, Lt. Col. Olabisi Ayeni, said the incident was misrepresented in the viral clip.

According to him, the soldiers had responded to an emergency call from officials of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), who reported being held hostage by suspected political thugs.

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“To set the record straight, around 8:20 p.m., an officer of the 302 Artillery Regiment received a distress call from NYSC officials and corps members reporting that they, along with INEC staff, were being held against their will. The call came after the sudden disappearance of the collation officer assigned to that polling unit,” the statement read.

Ayeni explained that a rapid response team of two officers and 12 soldiers was immediately deployed to the scene in line with the Army’s constitutional duty to support civil authorities and safeguard lives. Upon arrival, the soldiers encountered a tense situation involving several political figures, including the deputy governor, who challenged their presence.

“Despite the tension and provocation at the scene, troops of the Nigerian Army maintained utmost professionalism and restraint, successfully rescuing the corps members and INEC officials,” Ayeni said. He added that the rescued personnel were escorted safely to the INEC office, where collation of results later resumed without further incident.

The Army described the video as lacking context, emphasising that the deployment was purely a humanitarian and security intervention to protect election officials and ensure the smooth continuation of the voting process. It dismissed claims of misconduct as “baseless, misleading, and regrettable.”

The statement also noted that the Army had taken note of the conduct of some political actors during the confrontation and would engage the Anambra State Government to enhance coordination and understanding in future operations.

Reaffirming its commitment to neutrality and the defence of democratic institutions, the Army urged the public to disregard what it called “false narratives” surrounding the incident, stressing that its personnel remain dedicated to ensuring peace and security throughout the electoral process.

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