The Defence Minister, Prince Adetokunbo Kayode (SAN), has debunked claims that soldiers will be stationed at the polling booths to ensure security during the elections.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune in an interview, Kayode said no military personnel would be at polling booths starting with the House of Representatives and Senate elections today.

“My ministry (Defence) is not in any way involved with the electoral process. We are only involved in the internal security of the process. The military absolutely have no business around the polling booths and there won’t be any soldier around the ballot boxes. It is not their responsibility and they will not be there,” he stated.

He added that the constitution gives the police the primary responsibility for the security of the nation while that of the military is secondary.

He, however, added that the military would only wade into the election process if a critical situation which bordered on the total security of a particular locality was affected.

“It is only where it is needed and expedient to support civil security establishment that the military will do so,” the minister stated.

He also warned the people and the politicians not to offer any kind of assistance to the police.

“I want to add that the people should not in any way try to offer assistance to the police during the elections. No local government chairman should give them vehicles or hotels to sleep because they are well equipped to carry out their assignments. If they require anything, they know how to get what they need to do their job,” he warned.