ABUJA, Nigeria – The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reaffirmed the Armed Forces of Nigeria’s (AFN) commitment to professionalism, impartiality and strict adherence to constitutional provisions in supporting the conduct of peaceful, free, fair and credible elections during the 2027 General Elections.
The assurance was given by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, 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, themed “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the 2027 General Elections,” brought together senior military officers, security agencies, election management officials, resource persons and other stakeholders to examine the military’s constitutional role in election security.
Speaking at the event, the CDS described the seminar as timely, noting that the evolving security environment and increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections require continuous training and preparation of military personnel for election support operations.
He stressed that the Armed Forces’ constitutional mandate remains the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, suppression of insurrection and provision of aid to civil authorities when required, adding that personnel must discharge these responsibilities with the highest level of professionalism, discipline, impartiality and respect for human rights.
General Oluyede directed that personnel deployed under Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 must remain apolitical and strictly comply with the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement governing military participation in election-related operations.
He noted that the Armed Forces had consistently demonstrated professionalism during previous electoral engagements, including recent off-cycle and by-elections in Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo states.
According to the CDS, the success of Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 will not only be measured by the absence of violence but also by strict compliance with constitutional principles, neutrality and respect for the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
He urged commanders, staff officers and participants to internalise the lessons from the seminar to enhance operational effectiveness in an increasingly complex security environment.
In his keynote address, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, 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 Nigeria’s democracy.
Professor Amupitan observed that credible elections can only thrive in a secure environment, stressing that national security and the sovereign will of the people are inseparable.
He reaffirmed that while INEC is constitutionally responsible for conducting elections and the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security, the Armed Forces play a vital supporting role in aid of civil authorities during extraordinary security situations.
The INEC Chairman highlighted the military’s contributions to securing critical national infrastructure, protecting electoral assets, facilitating the movement of sensitive election materials and providing logistics support, particularly through the Nigerian Air Force’s airlift operations to difficult and hard-to-reach locations.
He also identified insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, organised political violence, cyber-enabled interference, misinformation and disinformation as emerging threats to election security, urging security agencies to strengthen intelligence-led operations, deepen inter-agency collaboration and adopt proactive security measures.
The seminar concluded with participants reaffirming the commitment of the Defence Headquarters, INEC and other stakeholders to strengthening collaboration and ensuring a secure environment for peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections in 2027.
