By Vicky Attah, Correspondent
The Defence Headquarters has directed military personnel who will participate in security operations during the 2027 general elections to maintain political neutrality, uphold human rights and strictly comply with established rules guiding their engagement.
The directive was issued by the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, who was represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, at a one-day seminar organised by the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations in Abuja on Thursday.
The seminar, with the theme, “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the 2027 General Elections,” brought together senior military officers, officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, representatives of security agencies and other stakeholders to examine the military’s role in securing the electoral process.
Ogunleye said the seminar was particularly important given the evolving security situation and growing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections.
He noted that the constitutional responsibilities of the Armed Forces include defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity, suppressing insurrection and providing assistance to civil authorities when required.
He stressed that personnel assigned to election-related duties must carry out their responsibilities with professionalism, discipline, impartiality and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.
According to him, troops deployed under Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 are expected to remain apolitical and operate strictly within the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement governing military participation in elections.
Oluyede also cited the Armed Forces’ involvement in previous electoral engagements, including off-cycle and by-elections in Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo states, as evidence of its commitment to professional conduct.
He said the effectiveness of the operation would not be judged only by whether violence was prevented, but also by the extent to which personnel adhered to constitutional principles and treated all citizens fairly.
Speaking on the broader security requirements for the elections, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Professor Joash Amupitan, represented by the commission’s Director of Legal Matters, said credible elections could not be achieved without adequate security.
Amupitan said the responsibility for conducting elections rests with INEC, while the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security. He, however, noted that the Armed Forces have an important supporting role when security situations require additional assistance to civil authorities.
He identified areas where the military could support the electoral process, including protection of critical infrastructure and electoral assets, movement of sensitive materials and logistical support to areas that are difficult to access.
He particularly noted the Nigerian Air Force’s capacity to provide airlift support to remote locations during electoral operations.
The INEC chairman listed insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, organised political violence, cyber threats, misinformation and disinformation among the challenges that could affect the 2027 elections.
He called for stronger intelligence gathering, closer cooperation among security agencies and early intervention to prevent emerging threats from disrupting the electoral process.
The seminar provided an opportunity for military personnel and electoral stakeholders to examine the responsibilities, limits and operational expectations surrounding military involvement in election security.
Participants subsequently reaffirmed the need for sustained cooperation among the Defence Headquarters, INEC and other relevant institutions to ensure peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections in 2027.
