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 military and other essential personnel deployed during elections.

Speaking during a high-level meeting with members of the Senate Committee on Army at the Defence Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, the army chief described the proposed legislation as a “noble idea” that is both timely and necessary.

“Our role during elections is to create a secure environment for Nigerians to vote. Ironically, many of us in uniform hardly get the opportunity to vote ourselves,” Oluyede said.

Reflecting on his decades-long career, the COAS revealed that he had only voted twice due to consistent deployment during electoral periods.

He praised the urgency of the amendment, which proposes that eligible security personnel and other essential workers be allowed to vote up to seven days before general elections. He assured the lawmakers of the Nigerian Army’s full support for the passage and implementation of the bill.

“This is a welcome development. It not only acknowledges our sacrifice but also strengthens democracy by ensuring inclusivity,” he added.

However, Oluyede called for robust mechanisms to guarantee the integrity of the early voting process. He emphasized the need for clear and secure verification procedures and urged lawmakers to invest in public sensitization and institutional alignment to ensure smooth adoption.

The meeting was led by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, Senator Abdulaziz Yar’adua, who briefed senior military officials on three major legislative efforts aimed at reforming Nigeria’s defence and democratic institutions. They include:

  1. The Armed Forces Trust Fund (Establishment) Bill, 2025
  2. The Armed Forces Act (Repeal and Re-enactment) Bill, 2025
  3. The Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which includes early voting provisions for security personnel, corps members, and journalists.

Senator Yar’adua noted that nearly two million essential workers are routinely disenfranchised during elections due to deployment obligations.

“These bills are necessary for modernising Nigeria’s armed forces and protecting the democratic rights of those who safeguard the nation,” he said.

He urged the Nigerian military to take ownership of the reforms and partner with the National Assembly to build a more responsive, inclusive, and secure democratic system.

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