Nigerian Army Will Remain Apolitical, Neutral and Professional In 2027 General Elections – GOC 81 Division

Nigerian Army Will Remain Apolitical, Neutral and Professional In 2027 General Elections – GOC 81 Division

The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 81 Division Nigerian Army, Major General Adebayo Babalola, has reaffirmed that the Nigerian Army will remain apolitical, neutral and professional before, during and after the 2027 General Elections.

Major General Babalola stated this on Thursday, 3 September 2026, during a sensitization lecture on “The Conduct of Personnel in Preparation for the 2027 General Elections in Nigeria”, held at the Vulcan Officers’ Mess, Headquarters 35 Artillery Brigade, Alamala Barracks, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Delivering his remarks, the GOC emphasized that there would be no room for partisanship, intimidation or misconduct by personnel under his command. He charged officers and soldiers of 81 Division to internalize the lessons from the lectures and be guided at all times by the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), the Electoral Act 2022, as well as the Code of Conduct and Rules of Engagement for the Armed Forces during elections.

The GOC highlighted four key directives to personnel: remain neutral at all times; conduct yourselves professionally with the highest standards of discipline; be accountable for your actions; and uphold the integrity of the Nigerian Army.

He warned that any personnel found wanting would face the full weight of military and civil law, stressing that the image and reputation of the Nigerian Army must not be dragged into disrepute.

In his goodwill message, the Special Guest of Honour, His Royal Majesty Oba Dr Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III, CFR, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, described the forthcoming general elections as another important milestone in Nigeria’s democratic development and national journey.

The Royal Father noted that beyond the contest for political authority, elections test the resilience of national institutions, the maturity of political actors and the collective commitment of citizens to peaceful constitutional processes.

He added that for the Armed Forces of Nigeria and other security agencies, the period would demand sound judgement, professional discipline, inter-agency coordination and unwavering fidelity to the Constitution.

The Alake described the seminar as timely and in line with the strategic vision of the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu NAM, and his Command Philosophy: “To Advance the Transformation of the Nigerian Army into a Professional, Adaptable, Combat-Ready and Resilient Force Capable of Decisively Discharging Its Constitutional Responsibilities within a Joint and Multi-Agency Environment.”

In his welcome address, the Commander 35 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Friday Oguche Onu, expressed appreciation to the GOC 81 Division for approving the conduct of the sensitization lecture at Headquarters 35 Artillery Brigade.

Brigadier General Onu stated that the lecture demonstrates the Nigerian Army’s commitment to professionalism, neutrality and adherence to its constitutional responsibilities.

He reminded personnel that the Nigerian Army would once again be called upon to provide support to civil authority in line with Section 217(2)(c) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). He stressed that the role of the military is strictly to aid civil authorities and support other security agencies in ensuring a peaceful, free, fair and credible electoral process.

The Brigade Commander urged all personnel to pay keen attention to the lectures, noting that the knowledge gained would guide their conduct before, during and after the elections and prevent actions capable of bringing the Nigerian Army into disrepute.

The seminar featured presentations by distinguished resource persons. The first lecture, titled “Democracy and National Security: The Role of the Nigerian Military in a Democratic Dispensation,” was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Olusegun Oladuntoye (Rtd), while “The Soldier and the Ballot: Legal Pitfalls, Human Rights and Security Duties” was delivered by Dr Murshadi Bello Yahaya.

The presentations were followed by insightful discussions and interactive sessions, with participants drawn from units under the Brigade and sister security agencies in the State actively participating in the engagements.