Defence Minister: Violence Threatens Nigeria's Elections

During a keynote address at the 2025 Blueprint Newspapers Impact Series and Awards Ceremony in Abuja, General Christopher Musa (Rtd.), Nigeria's Minister of Defence, asserted that no security architecture can guarantee peaceful elections if political actors choose violence. He highlighted that misinformation undermines electoral laws and emphasized the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in ensuring credible elections.

Musa, represented by Major General Olufemi Akinjobi (Rtd.), noted that modern threats to election security extend beyond physical violence to include manipulated information and societal divisions. He stated that election security should focus on protecting democratic legitimacy rather than merely securing polling stations.

Musa stressed that public trust is essential for democracy and that security encompasses not just the absence of violence but also the presence of confidence in institutions and the electoral process.