Osun Election: Army chief warns troops against partisanship, voter intimidation
The General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major General Auwalu Mahmuda, has issued a stern warning to troops deployed for the August 15 Osun State governorship election, directing them to remain politically neutral and avoid any action that could compromise the credibility of the poll.
Mahmuda gave the warning while addressing officers and soldiers preparing for election security duties at the Engineer Construction Command (ECC) in Ede, Osun State.
He cautioned the troops against political partisanship, intimidation of voters and any conduct that could undermine public confidence in the electoral process.
The GOC reminded the soldiers that their deployment was not to take over the responsibilities of civilian authorities, but to support them in line with the Nigerian Army’s constitutional mandate to provide assistance to civil authorities when required.
The election security operation, codenamed Operation SAFE CONDUCT, is intended to strengthen security around the electoral process while allowing the appropriate civilian agencies to carry out their statutory responsibilities.
Mahmuda stressed that the Nigeria Police Force remains the lead agency for election security, with the military playing a supporting role.
He therefore directed the troops to maintain restraint and operate within clearly defined limits, particularly when dealing with voters and other participants in the election.
According to the Army commander, soldiers deployed for the exercise are expected to provide outer-cordon security and should only intervene directly when called upon to respond to security threats.
The directive underscores the military’s emphasis on professionalism and neutrality as voters prepare to choose the next governor of Osun State.
Mahmuda’s warning also serves as a reminder to the troops that their conduct on election day could influence public perception of the process.
He urged them to discharge their duties within the law, remain impartial and ensure that their presence contributes to a peaceful and credible election rather than becoming a source of fear or intimidation.
