President Bola Tinubu convened a meeting with service chiefs and security agency heads at the State House in Abuja on Thursday to review the country’s preparedness for 2027 elections security.
Throughout the nearly five-hour session, Tinubu instructed security commanders to intensify operations aimed at rescuing individuals currently held captive by kidnappers and criminal networks, while also emphasizing the mandate to guarantee a secure, transparent, and credible electoral process.
Attendees at the briefing included National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu, Minister of Defense General Christopher Musa, Minister of Police Affairs Ibrahim Gaidam, and Minister of State for Defense Bello Matawalle.
Other attendees included Chief of Defense Staff General Olufemi Oluyede, Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant-General Waidi Shaibu, Chief of Naval Staff Vice-Admiral Idi Abbas, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Sunday Aneke, and Chief of Defense Intelligence Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Undiandeye.
The gathering also featured Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu; National Intelligence Agency Director-General Mohammed Mohammed; Department of State Services Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi; and retired Major-General Adeyinka Famadewa, Special Advisor to the President on Homeland Security.
Speaking to journalists after the session, Musa stated that the military and security heads briefed the President on the country’s overall security posture in the lead-up to the January 2027 elections.
According to him, Tinubu emphasized the importance of creating a secure voting environment for Nigerians and gave political parties the assurance that security services would maintain their objectivity during the election process.
Defence Minister assures voters of safety
On his part, Minister of Defense General Christopher Musa (retd.) has assured Nigerians that the nation’s security agencies will maintain absolute neutrality and ensure public safety throughout the polls and ensure 2027 elections security.
Speaking alongside various security chiefs, Musa emphasized that President Tinubu has explicitly mandated that the electoral process must remain entirely free, fair, and credible.
He said, “We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote, and so we want to assure Nigerians that we are committed.
“We are determined to ensure that we provide safety and security for all Nigerians. Everyone should come out and vote, vote for whoever they want.
“And it’s important for all other political parties to understand that the security forces are going to be neutral.
“So they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and that nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons. We are all professionals. We are fully committed.
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Backstory…
The focus on 2027 Elections Security comes as Nigeria moves closer to the next general election, scheduled to begin with the presidential and National Assembly polls on January 16, 2027.
With political activities gathering momentum, attention has shifted to how security agencies will protect voters, prevent electoral violence and ensure that political parties can campaign without intimidation.
Read Also: 2027 General Elections- INEC Chair Promises Every Vote Will Count
