Military Deployment and Election Conduct in Nigeria

Abstract

The way elections were conducted in Nigeria before the return of civil government on May 29, 1999, was a civil affair. The country's custom of involving the military in political processes began with the June 21, 2014, Ekiti State gubernatorial election, held under former President Goodluck Jonathan. This study uses secondary data to give an overview of the present argument in light of the controversy the topic has produced. The study also interrogates the circumstances that led to the deployment of the armed forces in the conduct of elections in the country and finds out the propriety or otherwise of the action under a democratic rule considering the constitutional roles of the military. The study equally discusses the expected professional conduct of the military in the electoral processes and the handling of security matters between the Election Management Body and security agents, and finally discusses the conduct of soldiers and matters arising concerning the 2027 general elections. These were prepared to prepare the military to actively participate professionally in the next elections in Nigeria.