The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has warned that no security arrangement can guarantee peaceful and credible elections in 2027 if political actors resort to violence, misinformation and other forms of electoral malpractice.
Musa, who spoke through his Senior Special Adviser on Policy and Strategy, Maj.-Gen. Olufemi Akinjobi (retd.), at the eighth Blueprint Newspaper Lecture and Awards, said the responsibility for peaceful elections extended beyond security agencies to political parties, candidates, the media, civil society and the electorate.
He said political actors must view elections as a democratic contest rather than warfare, stressing that national interest should take precedence over partisan considerations.
“No security architecture, regardless of how sophisticated, can guarantee peaceful elections if political actors choose violence over dialogue. No electoral law can succeed where misinformation is allowed to replace truth. No democratic institution can flourish where citizens lose faith in the rule of law,” Musa said. 
The minister outlined a six-point framework for strengthening election security ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The framework includes intelligence integration, threat assessment, protection of digital infrastructure, cyber resilience, civil-military coordination and strategic communication.
According to him, the Armed Forces will work with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Defence Intelligence Agency, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other relevant institutions to ensure that their constitutional responsibilities are carried out professionally and impartially.
Musa also dismissed concerns about partisan interests within the military, insisting that the Armed Forces had no stake in determining the outcome of elections.
“The Armed Forces have no partisan interest in the outcome of elections. Our institutional interest is that Nigeria remains peaceful, united and secure, and that every lawful responsibility assigned to us is carried out with honour, professionalism and accountability.”
He urged political parties and candidates to respect democratic institutions and the rule of law, while calling on the media to promote responsible reporting and counter the spread of misinformation.
The minister also appealed to civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders to intensify civic education and encourage peaceful participation in the electoral process.
He particularly urged Nigerian youths to reject political violence and avoid being used by politicians to disrupt the electoral process.
Musa said building a peaceful electoral environment required collective commitment from all stakeholders, noting that security agencies alone could not guarantee credible and violence-free elections without the cooperation of political actors and citizens.
