INEC: Military Deployment During Elections Must Remain Exceptional, Not Routine
The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has reaffirmed that the deployment of the Armed Forces during elections should only occur under exceptional security circumstances and not as a routine feature of the electoral process.
Speaking at a seminar in Abuja on Thursday through the Commission’s Director of Legal, Al-Hassan Umar, Amupitan said the Constitution clearly assigns INEC the responsibility of conducting elections, while the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
He explained that the military’s role is limited to supporting civil authorities when serious security threats arise, stressing that such involvement must always comply with constitutional and legal provisions.
According to him, the Armed Forces may be required to secure critical national assets and infrastructure, facilitate the safe movement of sensitive electoral materials where necessary, and provide support in extraordinary security situations. He noted that this arrangement preserves the civilian nature of elections while ensuring adequate security when required.
Amupitan urged military personnel deployed for election duties to maintain strict political neutrality, professionalism, discipline and respect for citizens, emphasizing that the Armed Forces serve the Nigerian state and the Constitution rather than any political party, candidate or individual.
Looking ahead to the 2027 General Elections, the INEC chairman warned that election security challenges have evolved beyond physical violence to include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cyber threats, misinformation, disinformation and the misuse of emerging technologies.
He disclosed that INEC is strengthening collaboration with security agencies through the ICCES to improve intelligence gathering, risk assessment and coordinated responses to emerging threats, with the goal of ensuring that every eligible Nigerian can vote freely, safely and without intimidation.
Amupitan reiterated that INEC remains committed to conducting transparent, inclusive and technology-driven elections, insisting that the Commission has no preferred candidate and remains guided solely by the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the will of the Nigerian people.
Also speaking at the seminar, the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa, represented by the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ commitment to supporting civil authorities in line with constitutional provisions.
He stressed the importance of maintaining neutrality, professionalism and compliance with international human rights standards as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 elections.
Ogunleye noted that the military’s conduct during recent off-cycle and by-elections in states including Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo contributed to peaceful electoral exercises. He added that the success of Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 would be measured not only by the absence of violence but also by strict adherence to impartiality, neutrality and respect for human rights.
