DHQ Reaffirms Armed Forces’ Commitment to Professionalism, Credible 2027 Elections
DHQ Reaffirms Armed Forces' Commitment to Professionalism, Credible 2027 Elections
DHQ Reaffirms Armed Forces’ Commitment to Professionalism, Credible 2027 Elections
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has reaffirmed the commitment of the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) to professionalism, impartiality and strict adherence to the Constitution in supporting the conduct of free, fair, peaceful and credible elections during the 2027 General Elections.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, stated this on Thursday, July 30, 2026, while delivering remarks at a one-day seminar organised by the Department of Operations, Defence Headquarters, in Abuja.
The seminar, themed “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the 2027 General Elections,” brought together senior military officers, representatives of security agencies, election management officials, resource persons and other key stakeholders.
General Oluyede described the seminar as timely, noting that the evolving security environment and increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections made continuous training and preparation of military personnel for election support operations essential.
He stressed that the constitutional responsibilities of the Armed Forces include defending Nigeria’s territorial integrity, suppressing insurrection and providing aid to civil authorities when called upon.
According to him, personnel must discharge these responsibilities with the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, impartiality and respect for human rights.
Military Personnel Must Remain Apolitical
The CDS emphasised that personnel deployed for election security duties under Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 must remain strictly apolitical and comply fully with the applicable Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement.
He noted that the Armed Forces had demonstrated professionalism during previous electoral engagements, including recent off-cycle and bye-elections conducted in Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo States.
General Oluyede stated that the success of Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 would not be measured solely by the absence of violence, but also by the military’s adherence to constitutional principles, impartiality and respect for the rights and dignity of Nigerians.
He urged commanders, staff officers and other participants to apply the knowledge gained from the seminar in preparing personnel to effectively respond to the increasingly complex security environment surrounding electoral activities.
INEC Calls for Stronger Inter-Agency Cooperation
Delivering the keynote address on behalf of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Joash Amupitan, the Director of Legal Matters commended the Defence Headquarters for organising the seminar, describing it as a demonstration of institutional preparedness and strategic cooperation in support of Nigeria’s democracy.
Professor Amupitan noted that credible elections can only take place in a secure environment, stressing that national security and the sovereign will of the people are closely connected.
He reiterated that while INEC has the constitutional responsibility for organising elections and the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security, the Armed Forces have an important supporting role in providing aid to civil authorities when extraordinary security situations arise.
The INEC Chairman also highlighted the contributions of the Armed Forces to election security, including protecting critical national infrastructure and electoral assets, supporting the movement of sensitive election materials and providing logistical assistance.
He particularly noted the role of the Nigerian Air Force in providing airlift capabilities to difficult-to-reach locations.
Emerging Threats to Election Security
Professor Amupitan identified several emerging threats that could affect electoral security, including insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, organised political violence, cyber-enabled interference, misinformation and disinformation.
He therefore called for intelligence-led security operations, stronger inter-agency coordination and proactive measures to identify and mitigate threats ahead of the elections.
The seminar ended with a renewed commitment by the Defence Headquarters, INEC and other stakeholders to strengthen cooperation and ensure a secure environment for peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent elections in 2027.
DHQ Reaffirms Armed Forces’ Commitment to Professionalism, Credible 2027 Elections
