Joash Amupitan, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), says the deployment of armed forces personnel to provide security during elections should not be routine.
Speaking in Abuja on Thursday at a seminar organised by the
Army War College, Amupitan said military deployment should be made only where
prevailing security conditions require the support of the armed forces in aid
of the civil authorities.
Amupitan, who was represented by Al-Hassan Umar, INEC’s
director of legal, said the Constitution clearly defines the roles of
institutions involved in election management.
He noted that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) remains the
lead agency for election security.
“As both a teacher and practitioner of the law, permit me to
begin by reaffirming the constitutional framework governing election security
in Nigeria,” Amupitan said.
“The constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria clearly
delineates the responsibilities of institutions involved in the electoral
process.
“INEC is constitutionally mandated to organise, undertake
and supervise elections, while the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency
for election security under the framework of the inter-agency consultative
committee on election security.
“The role of the Armed Forces is exceptional rather than
routine. Their deployment arises only where prevailing security conditions
require military support in aid of the civil authorities and strictly in
accordance with the constitution and other applicable laws.”
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