The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, has said the deployment of the Armed Forces during elections should remain an exceptional measure and only occur when security conditions demand military support for civil authorities.
Speaking through the Commission’s Director of Legal, Al-Hassan Umar, at a seminar in Abuja, Amupitan stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency responsible for election security, while the military’s role is strictly supportive and guided by the Constitution.
He explained that the Armed Forces may be called upon to protect critical national infrastructure, secure sensitive electoral materials, and assist civil authorities in extraordinary security situations. However, he noted that such involvement must never undermine the civilian nature of the electoral process.
Amupitan urged military personnel to maintain absolute political neutrality whenever deployed for election duties, emphasizing that their loyalty is to the Nigerian Constitution and the nation—not to any political party, candidate, or individual.
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, the INEC Chairman warned that election security challenges now extend beyond physical violence to include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, cyber threats, misinformation, disinformation, and the misuse of emerging technologies.
He disclosed that INEC, through the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), is strengthening collaboration with security agencies to identify and neutralise potential threats while ensuring that Nigerians can vote freely, safely, and without intimidation.
Amupitan reaffirmed INEC’s commitment to conducting transparent, inclusive, and technology-driven elections, stressing that the Commission remains impartial and has no preferred candidate.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Defence Civil-Military Relations, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, representing the Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, reiterated the military’s commitment to professionalism, neutrality, and respect for human rights during election security operations
