INEC Clarifies Military Role in Elections as Exceptional

Prof. Joash Amupitan, Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), clarified that the deployment of the Armed Forces during elections should be exceptional rather than routine. This statement was made during a seminar organized by the Defence Headquarters Department of Operations at the Army War College in Abuja.

Amupitan, represented by INEC’s Director of Legal, Al-Hassan Umar, reiterated that the Constitution delineates the roles of institutions in election management, with INEC responsible for conducting elections and the Nigeria Police Force as the lead agency for election security. He stated that the military's role is to provide support only under extraordinary circumstances, such as securing national assets and assisting civil authorities.

Amupitan emphasized that the military serves the Nigerian State and the Constitution, not any political party or candidate, and highlighted the need for professionalism and restraint to maintain public confidence in the electoral process.