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The Traffic NG

Christopher Musa

Minister of Defence General Christopher Musa has warned security agencies against relying on last-minute deployments to secure Nigeria’s elections, arguing that effective electoral security requires months of preparation, intelligence gathering and coordination.

Musa’s warning comes as political campaigns for the 2027 general elections begin, bringing renewed attention to the security challenges that could emerge during the electoral cycle.

The argument appears straightforward, but it addresses a deeper weakness in Nigeria’s election management system.

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Security during an election is not created when officers are moved into a community a few hours or days before voting.

It requires knowledge of the terrain, identification of potential flashpoints, communication between agencies and an understanding of local political tensions.

Last-minute deployment can make all of those tasks more difficult.

Election security also goes beyond preventing violence at polling stations.

Security personnel may be required to protect election materials, escort officials, secure collation centres and respond to threats before, during and after voting.

That means intelligence must be gathered long before election day.

Musa has also warned of emerging threats such as cyberattacks and artificial-intelligence-driven misinformation, suggesting that election security is no longer confined to physical polling locations.

The development of digital electoral technology has changed the nature of Nigeria’s elections.

Systems such as the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System and electronic result transmission have reduced some traditional opportunities for interference, but they have also created new areas of vulnerability.

A coordinated cyberattack or large-scale misinformation campaign can damage public confidence even without a single polling station being attacked.