The Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), has called for early planning, intelligence-led operations and effective coordination among security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Musa made the call on Tuesday at the 8th edition of the Blueprint Newspapers Public Lecture, Impact Series and Awards Ceremony held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja.

The event, themed “Security Challenges and Integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 Elections,” brought together political leaders, government officials and other stakeholders to discuss the security challenges that could affect the conduct and credibility of the 2027 elections.

Musa speaks on election security

The Defence Minister, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Policy and Research, Major General Olufemi Akinjobi (retd.) said election security could not be achieved through last-minute deployments, stressing the need for months of preparation and continuous assessment of potential threats.

“The successful election security is not achieved through last-minute deployments. It is achieved through months of planning, intelligence-led operations, inter-agency coordination, effective communication and continuous assessment of emerging threats,” Musa said.

He said early preparation would enable security agencies to identify potential threats and develop appropriate responses before they escalate.

‘Election security is protection of democratic legitimacy’

Musa said election security should be viewed as more than the protection of polling stations and electoral materials.

“Election security can no longer be viewed simply as the protection of polling stations. It is, fundamentally, the protection of democratic legitimacy,” he said.

According to him, safeguarding the democratic process requires protecting citizens’ confidence in elections and preventing threats capable of undermining the credibility of the outcome.

Minister highlights emerging security threats

Musa also warned that contemporary security threats increasingly operate beyond conventional warfare.

“Today’s threats rarely announce themselves with uniforms or conventional weapons. They emerge through cyberspace, spread through manipulated information, exploit economic hardship, inflame ethnic and religious divisions, and undermine confidence in public institutions,” he said.

He stressed the need for security agencies and other relevant institutions to adapt to the changing nature of threats facing the country.

Focus on 2027 election integrity

The minister’s remarks formed part of discussions on how to protect the integrity of Nigeria’s 2027 general elections amid security challenges.

The event examined threats including cyberattacks, misinformation, political violence, insecurity and attacks on electoral infrastructure and personnel.

Musa’s call for early planning and intelligence gathering comes as stakeholders begin preparations for the 2027 polls, with security expected to remain a major factor in ensuring a free, fair and credible electoral process.