By Chukwudi Obasi
In what could mark a significant step toward more inclusive democratic participation, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant-General Olufemi Oluyede, has thrown his weight behind the proposed Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to introduce early voting for security personnel and other essential workers deployed during elections.
Speaking at a crucial engagement with lawmakers at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja yesterday, Oluyede described the bill as “a noble idea” and “long overdue,” highlighting the irony that while military personnel are mobilised to secure the electoral process, they are often unable to exercise their right to vote.
“Our role during elections is to create a secure environment for Nigerians to vote freely and fairly. Ironically, many of us in uniform hardly get the opportunity to vote ourselves,” Oluyede noted.
Drawing from personal experience, the Army Chief revealed that he had only been able to vote twice in his entire military career due to recurring operational deployments during election periods.
The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, currently under consideration by the Senate, proposes allowing early voting for military and security personnel, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members, journalists, and other personnel whose duties require deployment during general elections.
The early voting is expected to take place at least seven days before the main polling date.
Oluyede assured the lawmakers of the Nigerian Army’s full cooperation with the legislative process and eventual implementation but emphasised the importance of designing a transparent and credible verification system to uphold the integrity of the early voting process.
He further advised that robust public communication and civic education campaigns should accompany the rollout of such reform to ensure widespread understanding, eliminate misinformation, and promote institutional alignment.
“This is not just about military personnel. It’s about safeguarding the rights of nearly two million Nigerians who are critical to the success of our elections but have been systematically disenfranchised,” he said.
The meeting was led by Senator Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, who presented the broader legislative agenda focused on strengthening Nigeria’s defence and democratic institutions.
In addition to the Electoral Act amendment, Yar’Adua briefed the Defence leadership on two other critical bills: the Armed Forces Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to address funding gaps for military operations and equipment, and the Armed Forces Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025, aimed at modernising the legal framework governing military service in Nigeria.
Yar’Adua reiterated the urgency of these reforms, noting that the disenfranchisement of essential election workers is a systemic problem that undermines the principle of universal suffrage.
“Nearly two million Nigerians—including security personnel, corps members, and journalists—miss out on voting during every election cycle. This is a democratic gap we must close,” he said.
He called on the military and other key stakeholders to not only support the bills but also take ownership of the reforms to ensure their effectiveness and sustainability.
The engagement signals a growing consensus between the legislature and the armed forces on the need to align Nigeria’s electoral framework with the operational realities of modern elections—where security, logistics, and participation must be carefully balanced to uphold both peace and democratic legitimacy.
