By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reiterated the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to professionalism, neutrality and strict adherence to constitutional provisions in support of the conduct of free, fair and credible elections during the 2027 General Elections.
The assurance was given on Thursday in Abuja at a one-day seminar organised by the DHQ Department of Operations with the theme, “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the 2027 General Elections.”
The event brought together senior military officers, representatives of security agencies, election management officials and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the role of the military in election support operations.
The Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, disclosed in a statement that the seminar was aimed at strengthening professionalism and preparing Armed Forces personnel for election-related security duties ahead of the 2027 polls.
Speaking at the seminar, the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, described the programme as timely in view of the evolving security environment and the increasing pace of political activities across the country.
According to him, the Armed Forces have a constitutional responsibility to defend Nigeria’s territorial integrity, suppress insurrection and provide aid to civil authorities whenever required, stressing that personnel must discharge these duties with discipline, professionalism, impartiality and respect for human rights.
The CDS emphasised that troops deployed for election security duties under Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 must remain apolitical and strictly adhere to the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement guiding military participation in election-related operations.
He noted that the Armed Forces had consistently demonstrated professionalism during previous electoral engagements, including off-cycle and by-elections conducted in states such as Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo.
General Musa further stated that the success of the operation would not only be measured by the absence of violence but also by the extent to which personnel uphold constitutional principles, impartiality and respect for the rights and dignity of Nigerians.
He urged commanders, staff officers and participants to internalise lessons from the seminar to enable them operate effectively in an increasingly complex security environment.
In a keynote address, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), represented by the Director of Legal Matters, commended the Defence Headquarters for organising the seminar, describing it as a demonstration of institutional preparedness and strategic collaboration in support of democracy.
The INEC chairman observed that credible elections can only thrive in a secure environment, stressing that national security and the sovereign will of the people are closely linked.
He reiterated that while INEC remains constitutionally responsible for conducting elections and the Nigeria Police Force serves as the lead agency for election security, the Armed Forces play an important supporting role in aid of civil authorities whenever extraordinary security situations arise.
The electoral body also highlighted the military’s contributions in securing critical national infrastructure, protecting electoral assets, supporting the movement of sensitive materials and providing logistical assistance, particularly through airlift operations to difficult and hard-to-reach locations.
It further identified insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, organised political violence, cyber-enabled interference, misinformation and disinformation as emerging threats to election security, urging security institutions to adopt intelligence-led operations and strengthen inter-agency cooperation.
Participants at the seminar reaffirmed their commitment to closer collaboration aimed at ensuring a secure environment that would guarantee peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections in 2027.
