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His remarks come amid growing concerns over the conduct of elections in Nigeria, where security challenges, including violence, voter intimidation and misinformation, have often undermined public confidence in the democratic process.
KaNo—
The Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Musa (retd.), has cautioned security agencies against relying on last-minute deployments to safeguard elections, stressing that credible electoral security can only be achieved through months of intelligence-driven planning, coordination and sustained engagement.
Musa gave the warning on Tuesday while delivering the keynote address at a security seminar organised by Blueprint newspaper, where he outlined the evolving nature of threats to Nigeria’s electoral process and the urgent need for a proactive security framework.
According to the minister, election security must not be treated as a one-day event limited to polling day, but as a continuous process that begins long before campaigns commence and extends beyond the final declaration of results.
“The lesson is clear: 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.
“Security should never be viewed as an event. It is a process that begins long before campaigns commence and continues long after the final vote has been counted.”
Voter Intimidation, Violence Undermining Public Confidence
His remarks come amid growing concerns over the conduct of elections in Nigeria, where security challenges, including violence, voter intimidation and misinformation, have often undermined public confidence in the democratic process.
Musa noted that the changing nature of security threats has made it imperative for authorities to expand their focus beyond the physical protection of polling units, warning that modern threats are increasingly complex and multidimensional.
He identified cyberspace, misinformation, economic hardship, and the manipulation of ethnic and religious divisions as emerging risks capable of disrupting elections and eroding trust in democratic institutions.
“The greatest threat to the integrity of an election may no longer be a person carrying a weapon at a polling unit, but an anonymous actor operating online to manipulate information and undermine public confidence,” he warned.
Minister Propose Six Pillar Framework
To address these challenges, the minister proposed a six-pillar framework designed to strengthen election security across the country.
“Modern election security must be intelligence-led rather than incident-driven,” Musa said, noting that reactive approaches have proven inadequate in dealing with evolving threats.
The second pillar, he said, focuses on the protection of digital infrastructure, stressing that as elections become increasingly technology-driven, safeguarding communication networks, electoral systems and information platforms is no longer optional.
“Electoral systems must be protected against cyber intrusion, digital sabotage and malicious interference,” he said.
On the third pillar, Civil-Military Coordination, Musa underscored the importance of seamless collaboration among security agencies, warning against institutional rivalry that could undermine effectiveness during elections.
“The constitutional roles of all security agencies must be respected, while strengthening coordination, interoperability and joint planning,” he said.
“Experience has shown that seamless collaboration, not institutional competition, delivers the best outcomes during national emergencies and major public events.”
The fourth pillar, Unified Strategic Communication, he described as critical in countering misinformation, noting that delayed or inadequate communication often creates space for false narratives to thrive.
“In today’s information environment, silence often creates space for misinformation, and timely, accurate, coordinated public communication is essential to sustaining public confidence before, during and after elections,” Musa said.
The remaining pillars include Responsible Information Environment and Engaged Citizens,highlight the need for collective responsibility in safeguarding the integrity of elections.
Musa stressed that government alone cannot defeat misinformation, calling on the media, technology companies, civil society organisations, educational institutions and citizens to promote fact-based discourse and resist narratives capable of inciting violence.
“Government alone cannot defeat misinformation; this is a shared national responsibility,” he said.
Yari urged political parties to prioritise national stability over partisan gains, noting that insecurity has persisted across successive administrations and should not be weaponised during elections.
“Let us encourage all political parties to understand that insecurity is not something to be traded with for the purpose of winning the hearts of citizens,” he said.
Reflecting on his tenure as governor from 2011 to 2019, Yari said he witnessed firsthand the security challenges that surrounded the 2015 and 2019 general elections, adding that the problem has remained a recurring national concern.
“The citizens are aware that we are in trouble. From Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and Jonathan to Buhari and today. We need to be fair and just,” he added.
Obasanjo Attributes Nigeria’s Economic Challenges To Poor Leadership
Meanwhile, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has attributed Nigeria’s worsening economic hardship, insecurity and governance challenges to poor leadership, warning that the consequences, if left unaddressed, could shape the future of an entire generation.
Obasanjo made the remarks in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while delivering the keynote address at the 2026 Leadership Empowerment International Conference, themed “The Gravity of Leadership Failure & Correction Methodologies”.
The conference, organised by the Perspective Leadership Development Institute in collaboration with the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute, brought together stakeholders to examine the country’s deepening governance challenges.
“The quality of leadership in Nigeria today is reflected in hardship, insecurity, hunger and growing disillusionment among the people,” Obasanjo said.
Although he did not directly mention President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his remarks come at a time of heightened public debate over the impact of ongoing economic reforms and the rising cost of living.
Obasanjo warned that the greatest danger lies not only in leadership mistakes but in the cumulative consequences of persistent governance failures.
“The greatest threat is not simply that leaders may err, but the broader consequences of unchecked leadership failure, which can shape the fate of an entire generation,” he said.
He emphasised that leadership goes beyond occupying public office, stressing that it requires accountability, responsible decision-making and a commitment to the public good.
“A government may present itself as reformist or transformative, but if its decisions deepen hardship, weaken institutions, erode trust or leave citizens more vulnerable, then the outcomes become the true measure of leadership,” he said.
Obasanjo further noted that the effects of poor leadership are evident in economic hardship, insecurity, declining public trust and social dislocation, warning that these challenges could erode national cohesion if not urgently addressed.
