Navy Begins 2027 Election Training Nationwide

Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor 

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abass, has directed naval commands, formations, establishments and bases across Nigeria to organise seminars aimed at educating officers and personnel on their roles and code of conduct during the 2027 general elections. The directive was disclosed on Monday, September 14, 2026, by the Commander of Navy Base Abuja, Commodore Oluseyi Oladipo, during a one-day seminar held at the CNS Conference Centre. The seminar, themed “The Role of Armed Forces Personnel in Conducting Free, Fair and Credible Elections,” brought together representatives of the Nigerian Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Nigerian Navy. The initiative reflects a broader effort by the armed forces to prepare for election support operations and to reassure the public that the military will remain apolitical as the country moves toward another general election.

Oladipo said the seminar was designed to promote greater awareness and clarity among Nigerian Navy personnel who would be deployed for electoral duties. He explained that the initiative was in line with the command philosophy of the Chief of Naval Staff, which seeks to maintain a mission-ready force committed to excellence and service to the nation. According to him, the seminar was timely given the 2027 general elections, and he noted that the Armed Forces of Nigeria would, in line with established constitutional provisions, be expected to support the democratic process by creating conditions for free, fair and credible elections. He said that after twenty-seven years of uninterrupted democratic governance, it had become necessary to examine the role of the armed forces in election security within established constitutional and legal frameworks. The outcome of the seminar, he added, would reinforce the Nigerian Navy’s commitment to protecting democracy and complement the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for Armed Forces personnel during elections.

The keynote lecture was delivered by Hon. Onofiok Luke, a lawyer, former Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly and former member of the National Assembly. Luke urged the Armed Forces to train personnel on civil conduct, human rights and the protection of voters during elections. He said the military must cultivate respect for the democratic process and its sustainability, stressing that personnel deployed for election duties must remain apolitical. “For no reason should the military be political. Its neutrality must be evident and open to all political stakeholders,” Luke said. He also noted that military personnel, as citizens, had the right to vote, and he urged authorities to make adequate arrangements to enable personnel exercise their franchise regardless of their deployment locations. Luke addressed concerns over the involvement of the military in election security, saying public apprehension was understandable because of reported incidents involving security personnel during previous elections. He said the absence of clearly defined roles, regulations and accountability mechanisms had contributed to concerns surrounding military involvement in elections, and he cautioned against perceived partisanship among security personnel.

Representing the Nigerian Police Force, Assistant Commissioner of Police Akaniyene Edwards of the Department of Operations, FCT Command, said the support provided by the armed forces was key to the overall success of elections in Nigeria. He acknowledged that safety during elections is primarily the responsibility of the police, but he noted that the military brings added manpower to help cover every corner of the country during elections. He said the presence of the military is deployed to deplete external forces that may seek to destabilise the electoral process. Edwards said the police were laying the groundwork to improve service efficiency for the upcoming election, including training and retraining officers, exposing them to the Electoral Act and all regulations guiding elections, and engaging with stakeholders, community leaders, youth leaders and civil society. He urged personnel deployed on election duty to remain impartial, apolitical and professional, and to avoid using force except when necessary. Representing the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Assistant Commandant of Corps Stephen John said Nigerians’ right to vote must be protected at all costs, describing it as a democratic fundamental. He said the armed forces and other security agencies must work together to protect lives and property, protect voters’ rights, and ensure the security and transportation of sensitive electoral materials.

The seminar is part of a wider pattern of preparations across Nigeria’s security architecture. In July 2026, the Defence Headquarters organised a seminar for military personnel on professional, impartial and constitutionally compliant election security operations. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, charged field commanders to remain neutral, professional and respectful of human rights ahead of the 2027 polls. In September 2026, the Nigerian Army held a sensitisation lecture on the conduct of Armed Forces personnel during the elections, attended by personnel from the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service and the Federal Road Safety Corps. The consistent theme across these engagements has been the importance of neutrality, professionalism and respect for democratic processes. The Naval Chief’s directive extends that effort to naval commands and bases nationwide, ensuring that personnel deployed for election duties receive standardised guidance on their responsibilities.

Reactions to the directive have been largely positive among stakeholders who have called for military neutrality in past elections. Civil society organisations focused on electoral integrity have repeatedly urged security agencies to avoid partisanship and to protect voters rather than intimidate them. The police’s acknowledgment that election security is primarily a civil responsibility, with the military playing a supporting role, reflects the constitutional framework. However, public apprehension remains. Previous elections in Nigeria have been marred by allegations of security personnel intimidating voters, interfering with electoral materials and acting on behalf of political interests. The absence of clearly defined roles and accountability mechanisms has been a persistent criticism. The seminars alone will not resolve these concerns, but officials say they are a necessary step in building a culture of professionalism and neutrality.

The 2027 general elections are expected to be highly competitive. President Bola Tinubu is seeking a second term, while opposition candidates including Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi are mounting significant challenges. The political environment is charged, and the deployment of security personnel will be closely scrutinised. The Nigerian Navy’s role in election security is typically concentrated in coastal and riverine areas, where maritime transport of electoral materials and personnel takes place. The directive to organise seminars across commands and bases is intended to ensure that naval personnel understand their limited but important role. The Chief of Naval Staff’s command philosophy emphasises a mission-ready force committed to excellence and service to the nation, and the election seminars are framed as part of that broader professionalisation effort.

For now, the seminars are scheduled to take place across naval formations in the coming weeks. The outcome will feed into the Nigerian Navy’s preparations for the 2027 elections and its contribution to the inter-agency framework for election security. The armed forces have repeatedly said they will remain apolitical and support the democratic process. Whether that commitment translates into conduct that earns public trust will depend on training, oversight and accountability. The Naval Chief’s directive is a step in that direction, but the real test will come when voters go to the polls.

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