The Nigerian military has said that it will not take issues with politicians over its role in the inconclusive governorship election in Bayelsa State.

The Peoples Democratic Party and Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State had accused soldiers of colluding with the All Progressives Congress and the Independent National Electoral Commission to rig the election in seven wards in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of the state.

But the Director of Defence Information, Col. Rabe Abubakar, denied the allegation on Thursday in a telephone interview with a Lagos-based radio station, Raypower, which was monitored by our correspondent.

He said the military would not take issues with politicians including the governor.

He said, “I don’t want to take issues with political leaders; everybody has the right to whatever he would say but the point is clear that the military, going by our code of conduct in elections, our duty is just to provide security.”

While calling on the public to be more responsible, Abubakar insisted that the military “would not partake in any actions that will contradict its norms.”

He said, “We have a duty to protect lives and property…. Our presence there (in Bayelsa) was purely to guard against any anomalies.

“Our duty is to complement the efforts of other security agencies to protect and secure lives and property. We are to augment the security provided by other security agencies, whose duty it is to provide (security there). Our duty was purely to ensure that the kind of security breaches (you mentioned) did not happen in any way. Punch report

“This is a democracy and democracy has principles. If there is that kind of thing, I believe that our nation and everybody must be party to ensure that we do things right and if there is any way you think that was not done, I think it is appropriate to talk to the authorities.”