New details have emerged about the viral video showing a confrontation between Onyeka Ibezim (Deputy Governor of Anambra State) and a military team at a collation point during the governorship election in Awka.
According to multiple reports, the incident originated on the morning of 8 November 2025 at approximately 08:20 hours, when the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) State Coordinator in Anambra, Pauline Ojisua, placed a distress call to the 302 Artillery Regiment (General Support) of the Nigerian Army. The message: corps members and officials of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were reportedly being held hostage by political thugs at a location identified as Ukwu Oji Umubele, Ward 5, Awka South LGA. The collation officer at the polling unit had allegedly fled.
Confusion Erupted In Anambra After Uniformed Soldiers Showed Up At Collation Centres Without A Clear Reason For Their Presence, Prompting The Deputy Governor To Interrogate Their Leader. #AnambraElection pic.twitter.com/sBqw7j9o3u
— Somto Okonkwo (@General_Somto) November 9, 2025
A small team of troops was dispatched and, on arrival, rescued the NYSC corps members and the electoral officials. They escorted them safely to the INEC office, and the collation process proceeded without further incident.
However, upon meeting the rescue team at the collation venue, Deputy Governor Ibezim — accompanied by political associates — challenged their presence. The viral video captures the Deputy Governor verbally questioning the soldier: “Why are you here?” She argued that the military had no mandate to be at the collation centre, even as the soldier calmly explained he was acting on a distress call. The soldier asked: “Madam, what did you tell me when you called?” before the footage cuts off.
Security and election-law experts say that the intervention was lawful and in line with emergency procedures. The action was triggered not by party politics but by credible threat to NYSC corps members and electoral officials — a scenario in which military support is authorised under election-security protocols. Meanwhile, INEC rules prohibit election candidates or their deputies from entering collation centres, to prevent interference or intimidation.
Observers say the Deputy Governor’s behaviour amounted to obstruction of a legitimate rescue mission. A source close to the security team commented: “The military’s swift intervention prevented potential harm to corps members. Any harassment of security personnel performing rescue duties is unacceptable.”
The viral video circulating on X captures a tense encounter between Onyeka Ibezim, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, and a Nigerian Army officer at a governorship election collation centre. Several unidentified individuals were also present during the incident.
In the footage, the soldier attempts to speak with Deputy Governor Ibezim but is repeatedly interrupted as Ibezim raises his voice, demanding to know why the officer was at the collation centre. The officer explains that he had responded to a distress call involving corps members allegedly being held at the location.
While the exchange is ongoing, the soldier receives a phone call and informs the caller that he had gone to the centre after being contacted by the Electoral Officer (EO). He adds that upon arrival, he encountered the Deputy Governor.
During the call, the officer mentions that Ibezim accused him of “interfering with the process,” a statement that appears to anger the Deputy Governor. Ibezim insists the officer was “misrepresenting facts” and “reporting wrongly.” The Deputy Governor and others then request to speak directly with the caller, believed to be the officer’s superior or commander.
After the call, the questioning continues, with Ibezim and others pressing the officer to explain his presence. Despite his attempts to de-escalate the situation, tensions remain high.
At one point, an unidentified individual alleges that the officer was at the centre to “obtain election materials” and even to “kidnap presiding officers to an unknown destination.” The soldier strongly denies both claims.
Towards the end of the clip, the officer addresses the Electoral Officer, asking her to confirm whether she had called him. The EO does not deny making the call.
As of the time of reporting, INEC has not issued an official statement regarding the incident.
