By Emmanuel Onyedika
The Armed Forces of Nigeria on Thursday reaffirmed their commitment to neutrality, professionalism and adherence to human rights in the conduct of the 2027 General Elections.
Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, stated this at a seminar on “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Personnel in Conducting Free, Fair and Credible Elections: The 2027 General Elections in Perspective” organised by the Defence Headquarters, Department of Operations, in Abuja.
Represented by Rear Adm. Abolade Ogunleye, Chief of Training, Defence Headquarters, Oluyede said the seminar was timely given current security challenges and the need to create an enabling environment for peaceful elections.
“As we approach the election period, it is imperative that personnel are constantly reminded of their roles to ensure strict neutrality, professionalism and adherence to international human rights provisions,” he said.
He added that the seminar would align commanders and staff officers with their roles and reiterate adherence to the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Operation Safe Conduct 2027. He cited the professional conduct of troops during recent off-cycle and by-elections in Ekiti, Kano, Kogi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo states as contributing to seamless and incident-free polls.
The CDS urged participants to strengthen inter-agency cooperation, ensure rapid response and protect law-abiding citizens while remaining apolitical. He also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his strategic guidance and support to the Armed Forces.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, represented by Director of Legal Services, Al-Hassan Umar, said security and electoral integrity were inseparable. He stressed that while INEC is constitutionally mandated to organise elections, the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security under the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“Election security today extends beyond conventional acts of violence. We are confronted by insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cyber-enabled interference, misinformation and disinformation,” Amupitan noted.
He listed five strategic imperatives for 2027: continuous joint planning, intensified election-specific training, intelligence sharing, adherence to code of conduct, and unwavering professionalism and neutrality. He added that INEC remains committed to inclusive elections, with special attention to persons with disabilities, the elderly, pregnant women and other vulnerable groups.
“The credibility of the 2027 General Elections will depend not only on the efficiency of electoral administration, but equally on the professionalism, neutrality and constitutional fidelity of every institution entrusted with responsibilities in the electoral process,” he said.
Amupitan reaffirmed that INEC has no candidate in any election, stressing its allegiance is solely to the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the will of the Nigerian people. He commended the Armed Forces for their patriotism and pledged further collaboration to ensure peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.