2027: DHQ Trains Troops for Professional Election Security Duties
The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has begun preparations for the 2027 General Elections with a seminar aimed at equipping military personnel for professional, impartial and constitutionally compliant election security operations.
The military said personnel deployed for election duties must remain apolitical, respect human rights and strictly adhere to the rules of engagement to ensure peaceful, free and credible elections.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, stated this on Thursday in Abuja at a one-day seminar organised by the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations with the theme, “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the 2027 General Elections.”
Represented by the Chief of Defence Training, Rear Admiral Abolade Ogunleye, the CDS described the seminar as timely, noting that the nation’s evolving security environment and increasing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections require continuous training and preparedness for Armed Forces personnel.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, Oluyede reiterated that the constitutional responsibility of the Armed Forces remains the defence of Nigeria’s territorial integrity, suppression of insurrection and support to civil authorities whenever required.
He stressed that troops participating in election security operations under Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 must conduct themselves with the highest standards of professionalism, discipline, impartiality and respect for human rights.
The CDS noted that the Armed Forces had consistently demonstrated professionalism during previous electoral engagements, including recent off-cycle and by-elections conducted in Ekiti, Kano, Kebbi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo states.
He added that the success of Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2027 would not only be measured by the absence of violence but also by strict adherence to constitutional principles, neutrality and respect for the rights and dignity of all Nigerians.
Oluyede urged commanders, staff officers and other participants to internalise the lessons from the seminar to enable them to operate effectively in an increasingly complex security environment.
In a keynote address, the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yakubu, represented by the commission’s 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.
He said credible elections could only thrive in a secure environment, stressing that while INEC is constitutionally responsible for conducting elections and the Nigeria Police Force serves as the lead agency for election security, the Armed Forces play a critical supporting role in aid of civil authorities during extraordinary security situations.
The INEC chairman also identified insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, organised political violence, cyber-enabled interference, misinformation and disinformation as major threats to election security, urging security agencies to strengthen intelligence-led operations and inter-agency collaboration ahead of the 2027 polls.
The seminar reaffirmed the commitment of the Defence Headquarters, INEC and other stakeholders to deepening collaboration towards ensuring peaceful, credible, inclusive and transparent general elections in 2027.