The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has firmly opposed the routine deployment of military personnel during elections, stressing that the armed forces should only be called upon in exceptional circumstances when security threats exceed the capacity of civil authorities.
The commission maintained that election security remains primarily the responsibility of the Nigeria Police Force, in line with constitutional provisions and established electoral security frameworks.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, represented by the Commission’s Director of Legal Services, Al-Hassan Umar, made the position known on Thursday while delivering a keynote address at a seminar held at the Army War College in Abuja.
He emphasized that the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly outlines the responsibilities of institutions involved in the electoral process, leaving no ambiguity about the role of security agencies during elections.
According to him, INEC’s mandate is to organize, conduct and supervise elections, while the police serve as the lead agency responsible for maintaining security before, during and after the polls through the framework of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES).
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly delineates the responsibilities of institutions involved in the electoral process,” he said.
“INEC is constitutionally mandated to organise, undertake and supervise elections, while the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security under the framework of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security.”
The electoral commission cautioned against making military deployment a standard feature of elections, noting that the armed forces should only be engaged when extraordinary security situations demand their intervention in support of civil authorities.
“The role of the Armed Forces is exceptional rather than routine. Their deployment arises only where prevailing security conditions require military support in aid of the civil authorities and strictly in accordance with the Constitution and other applicable laws,” Umar stated.
The remarks come amid ongoing national conversations about the role of security agencies in safeguarding elections and ensuring that democratic processes are conducted in a peaceful, transparent and credible environment.
INEC reiterated its commitment to constitutional order and electoral integrity, insisting that while security remains crucial to successful elections, the deployment of military personnel must be guided by legal provisions and reserved for situations where exceptional threats to public safety make such intervention unavoidable.
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