The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Olufemi Oluyede, has endorsed the Senate’s proposed early voting bill for military and security personnel deployed during elections.
Oluyede gave his support during a visit by Senate Committee on Army Chairman, Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, to Army Headquarters in Abuja.
He emphasized that the Army’s role on election day is to support the police and create a secure environment, but this has kept many personnel from voting.
He called for safeguards in the bill to prevent impersonation and improve communication among security agencies and stakeholders.
Senator Yar’Adua explained that the visit aimed to seek Army support for three bills: the Electoral Act Amendment, Armed Forces Act Repeal and Reenactment, and another aimed at enhancing military roles in democracy.
He noted that nearly two million Nigerians—military, INEC, NYSC, media, and observers—are disenfranchised on election day due to essential duties.
In 2023, the Army deployed 95% of its personnel, while DSS deployed 93,495; police, 310,973; NYSC, 200,000; NSCDC, 81,000; FRSC, 21,000; NCC, 11,335; EFCC, 350; and NDLEA, 9,447.
Dr. Sam Ogwuche of YIAGA Africa called the bill timely, saying voting is a civic duty that should be accessible to all Nigerians.