The Armed Forces of Nigeria have reiterated their unwavering commitment to neutrality, professionalism, and respect for human rights as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections. This assurance was delivered on Thursday, July 30, 2026, during a seminar organized by the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations, titled “The Role of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Personnel in Conducting Free, Fair and Credible Elections: The 2027 General Elections in Perspective.”
Seminar Highlights Core Principles
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), speaking through a representative, underscored the timeliness of the seminar given the prevailing security challenges and the imperative to foster an environment conducive to peaceful elections. He reminded personnel that the Constitution tasks the Armed Forces with suppressing insurrection and aiding civil authorities when required. “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,” the CDS stated.
Learning from Past Elections
The defence chief pointed to the successful conduct of off-cycle and by-elections in seven states—Ekiti, Kano, Kogi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu, and Ondo—as evidence that professional troop conduct contributes to seamless and incident-free polls. He emphasized that these experiences provide valuable lessons for strengthening inter-agency cooperation, ensuring rapid response, and protecting law-abiding citizens while remaining apolitical.
Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement
The seminar aimed to 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. The CDS urged participants to apply the lessons learned to enhance coordination with other security agencies and to maintain the highest standards of discipline. He also commended the strategic guidance and support provided to the Armed Forces by the government and military leadership.
Commitment to Democratic Process
Reaffirming the military’s apolitical stance, the CDS stressed that the Armed Forces would not interfere with the electoral process. Instead, they would focus on providing security to enable citizens to exercise their franchise freely. The seminar concluded with a call for all personnel to uphold the trust reposed in them by the Nigerian people.
