INEC Rejects Routine Military Deployment During Elections

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has rejected the routine deployment of military troops during elections, saying the Armed Forces’ role should remain exceptional rather than standard practice.

INEC Chairman Professor Joash Amupitan made the statement through the Commission’s Director of Legal, Al-Hassan Umar, while delivering a keynote address at a seminar at the Army War College in Abuja on Thursday.

According to Amupitan, the military should only be deployed where prevailing security conditions require armed forces’ support in aid of civil authorities.

Constitution Assigns Police as Lead Election Security Agency

Amupitan said the Nigerian Constitution clearly defines the roles of institutions involved in election management, with INEC handling organisation and supervision while the Nigeria Police Force serves as the lead agency for election security.

“As both a teacher and practitioner of the law, permit me to begin by reaffirming the constitutional framework governing election security in Nigeria,” he said.

“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly delineates the responsibilities of institutions involved in the electoral process. 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,” he added.

The Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security coordinates security planning among Nigeria’s law enforcement and security agencies ahead of elections, with the police playing the central coordinating role.

Military Role Limited to Exceptional Circumstances

Amupitan said the Armed Forces’ involvement in elections should only occur under specific conditions defined by law, not as a default arrangement.

“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,” he said.

His remarks come amid ongoing debate in Nigeria over the extent of military involvement in past elections, with critics previously raising concerns about troop presence at polling units in some states.

The seminar at the Army War College brought together security and electoral stakeholders to discuss the framework guiding institutional roles ahead of future elections, including the 2027 general election.