The Armed Forces of Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to neutrality, professionalism and respect for human rights in the conduct of the 2027 general elections.
The assurance was given on Thursday by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) during a seminar titled “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.
Represented at the event, the CDS described the seminar as timely in view of prevailing security challenges and the need to provide a peaceful environment for the conduct of the elections.
He noted that the Constitution empowers the Armed Forces to suppress insurrection and provide aid to 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,” he said.
The defence chief explained that the seminar was designed to familiarise commanders and staff officers with their responsibilities and reinforce compliance with the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Operation Safe Conduct 2027.
He cited the conduct of military personnel during off-cycle and by-elections in Ekiti, Kano, Kogi, Rivers, Nasarawa, Enugu and Ondo states, noting that their professionalism contributed to peaceful and incident-free electoral processes.
The CDS urged participants to apply lessons from previous elections to strengthen inter-agency collaboration, improve rapid response capabilities and ensure the protection of law-abiding citizens while remaining apolitical throughout the electoral process.
He also commended the strategic guidance and support provided to the Armed Forces in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities.