Abuja: The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has declared his support for the early voting bill introduced by the Senate for military and security personnel deployed during elections. Oluyede expressed the support of the army for the bill at a meeting with the Chairman, Senate Committee on Army, Sen. Abdulaziz Yar’Adua (APC-Katsina state) in Abuja on Thursday. He stated that the role of the army on Election Day, in collaboration with other security agencies, is to create an environment where Nigerians can freely exercise their voting rights.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Oluyede emphasized the army’s current inability to exercise their own franchise due to their commitments in supporting the lead agency, the Police, during elections. He acknowledged the bill as a long overdue and commendable effort, promising full army support for all related legislative initiatives. However, Oluyede highlighted the need for measures to prevent impersonation and enhance communication among security agencies and essential workers.
Earlier, Yar’Adua explained that his visit aimed to seek the army’s support for three bills under consideration in the National Assembly. These bills aim to strengthen the armed forces and enhance their democratic participation. The bills in question are the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the Armed Forces Trust Fund Amendment Bill, and the Armed Forces Act Repeal and Reenactment Bill. Yar’Adua stressed the necessity of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill to address the disenfranchisement of eligible Nigerians engaged in essential duties on election day.
Yar’Adua cited the 2023 general elections where the Nigerian Army deployed 95% of its personnel for election-related security tasks. Alongside the Department of State Security (DSS), the military deployed 93,495 personnel. Other deployments included the Police with 310,973 personnel, NYSC with 200,000 corps members, NSCDC with 81,000 personnel, FRSC with 21,000 personnel, Nigerian Correctional Centre with 11,336 officers, EFCC with 350 operatives, and NDLEA with 9,447 personnel.
Yar’Adua pointed out that the cumulative number of disenfranchised personnel could significantly influence election outcomes. He expressed concern over the declining voter turnout, which was 4.7% in 2015, 34.7% in 2019, and 27.3% in 2023. Allowing early voting for military personnel, he argued, is essential for fairness and restoring confidence in the electoral process. He urged the Nigerian Army to collaborate with INEC in identifying eligible personnel to vote.
Dr. Sam Ogwuche, Coordinator of the Centre for Legislative Engagement, YIAGA-Africa, described the bill as apt and timely. He emphasized that voting is a civic responsibility and a hallmark of democracy, supporting the bill alongside other stakeholders advocating for increased citizen participation.
