The Military, Conduct of Elections and Matters Arising in Nigeria

Abstract

The conduct of elections in Nigeria was a civil matter before the return to civil rule in 29 May 1999. The Ekiti State gubernatorial election conducted in 21 June 2014 under former President Goodluck Jonathan marked the beginning of massive deployment of the military during elections and has since become a norm to engage the military in electoral processes in the country. In view of the controversy the issue has generated, this study draws on secondary data to provide an overview on the current debate. The study also interrogates the circumstances that led to the deployment of the armed forces in the conduct of elections in the country and examines the propriety or otherwise of the action under a democratic rule in line with the constitutional roles of the military. The study equally discusses the expected professional conducts of the military in the electoral processes as well as the handling of security matters between the Election Management Body and security agents, and finally discusses the conducts of soldiers and matters arising with reference to the 2027 general elections. These were with the view to preparing the military for a robust professional engagement in Nigeria’s future elections.