Arguments arose during debates on a bill seeking to further amend the Electoral Act, No. 6 of 2010.

Their Senate counterparts had last week Thursday passed a similar bill.

The House Deputy Leader, Leo Ogor (Delta/PDP) and the Chairman, House Committee on Rules and Business, Albert Sam Tsokwa (Taraba/PDP) insisted that the power of the President to deploy troops was backed by the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act.

According to Tsokwa, the Armed Forces Act particularly gave the President and a proxy, powers to deploy troops for “operational use”.

This position drew a harsh response from the House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/APC). Efforts by the presiding Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha, to douse the situation failed as Ogor and Gbajabiamila continued to trade harsh words over the matter.

While acknowledging that the constitution allows the President to deploy the military, Gbajabiamila insisted that the powers were not “absolute”.

He stated that the President can only exercise such powers subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by an Act of the National Assembly.

The bill under debate seeks to ensure a level playing field for all participants in the electoral process. It also seeks to ensure a more transparent process of conducting elections.

Samson Osagie (Edo/APC), who supported the bill, urged the House to address abuses in the issue of substitution of candidates after primaries or in the event of death or withdrawal of a candidate.
- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/reps-rowdy-session-presidents-power-deploy-soldiers/#sthash.gC7RXOtx.dpuf

In the US that Nigeria copies it's democratic practices, the president cannot and does not arbitrarily deploy the army in US soil, in elections or to further a personal or party agenda. But trust the slavish Nigerian citizens who are supposed to have a say when troops must be deployed to step to the plate and take responsibility? No, the retardeenous GEJ till 2059 money has bought their common sense! Instead of Nigerians to insist on having this powers to be vested in them through elected representatives, they are so enslaved and care only for their next akpu and ofe crawcraw soup!!

He is the C in C of the armed forces. He is has the right to deploy soldiers to any where as long as it is in the interest of the country

The first question to ask is, "what is the role of Soldiers in every nation? Is it to protect election or save guard the nation against any attack?

President has right to order troops but the right has been abused. They are using the imcubency of the order to intimidate and harrass any opposition.

Nigeria is a crook nation where Soldiers take the place of Police while the Police takes the post of revenue collectors on the highway.