President Bola Tinubu has directed security agencies to guarantee free, fair and credible elections in 2027, with a warning against intimidation of candidates and supporters of opposition political parties.
The Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing State House correspondents after a meeting of the National Security Council, presided over by Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Musa said the President had instructed security agencies to provide a safe environment for Nigerians to exercise their democratic rights, irrespective of their political affiliations.
“You can see all heads of security agencies are here. We had an intensive discussion, and Mr President made it very clear he wants a free, fair and credible election,” the minister said.
“We must do everything possible to ensure that the country is safe and secure for the citizens to go out and vote.”
He assured opposition parties and other political actors that security personnel would remain neutral throughout the electoral process and would not use their positions to intimidate candidates or deny any party the opportunity to participate.
“For all other political parties, they should understand that the security forces are going to be neutral. We are going to ensure that we give everybody the opportunity to go and serve, so they have nothing to worry about, nothing to be afraid of, and nobody is going to intimidate them for whatever reasons,” Musa said.
The assurance comes as political parties intensify preparations for the 2027 general elections, with security and the neutrality of law enforcement agencies expected to remain critical issues throughout the electoral process.
Tinubu Orders Rescue Of Abducted Nigerians
Beyond election security, Musa said Tinubu had directed security agencies to intensify the fight against terrorism and banditry and ensure the rescue of Nigerians held captive by criminal groups.
He said the President had made it clear that security agencies must pursue abductors and dismantle their operational bases wherever they exist in the country.
“The directive from the president is: all of us must go all out to fish out and rescue all those that have been abducted, kidnapped, wherever they are,” the defence minister said.
“There shouldn’t be any camp of any terrorist or bandits anywhere in Nigeria.”
The directive signals renewed pressure on the military and other security agencies to strengthen ongoing operations against armed groups responsible for killings, kidnappings and attacks on communities across the country.
Musa said the Federal Government was also expanding the capacity of the Armed Forces through increased recruitment, training and the procurement of additional equipment.
New Aircraft, Helicopters Coming
The minister disclosed that Tinubu would soon inaugurate nearly 10 newly acquired aircraft and helicopters to strengthen the operational capacity of the military.
According to him, the acquisitions reflect the administration’s determination to tackle insecurity despite the economic challenges facing the country.
He also pointed to recent salary increases for military personnel and improved welfare packages for security operatives and pensioners as part of efforts to boost morale and enhance performance across the security sector.
The measures, he said, were intended to improve the ability of security agencies to respond to threats and protect lives and property.
Minister Seeks Public Cooperation
Musa called on Nigerians to support the security agencies by providing credible intelligence on suspicious activities and reporting misconduct by security personnel.
He stressed that maintaining peace and security required the collective efforts of citizens, communities and government institutions.
“Security is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not only for members of security forces. Everyone has a role to play,” he said.
The minister also warned that security personnel found engaging in wrongdoing would face appropriate disciplinary action, stressing that misconduct would not be tolerated.
He urged Nigerians to cooperate with security agencies as the government pursues its twin objectives of improving national security and ensuring a peaceful electoral process in 2027.
