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Chief of Defence Intelligence (CDI), Lt. Gen. Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, has assured foreign defence advisers and attaches accredited to Nigeria that the Federal Government is prepared, willing and capable of conducting peaceful and transparent elections in 2027, in line with internationally acceptable standards.
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Undiandeye dismissed allegations that the government or military intends to militarise or undermine the electoral process, stressing that the armed forces would neither take over nor control the polls.
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The Defence Intelligence chief urged foreign military representatives to verify reports about Nigeria’s security situation and the 2027 elections before relying on claims circulating on social media.
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Warning that misinformation and disinformation could distort the true picture of developments in the country, Undiandeye said the military’s role would be limited to providing security and logistical support to election personnel and materials.
October 02, (THEWILL) – The Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, has assured foreign defence advisers and attaches accredited to Nigeria that there is no plan by the Federal Government or the military to militarise or take over the 2027 general elections.
Undiandeye gave the assurance in Abuja while addressing foreign Defence Advisers and Defence Attaches at their third-quarter operational briefing, where he also warned against what he described as the dangerous spread of misinformation and disinformation about Nigeria’s security situation and preparations for the elections.
The Defence Intelligence chief said the government was prepared, willing and capable of conducting the 2027 elections peacefully, transparently and in accordance with internationally acceptable standards.
He urged the foreign military representatives to disregard unverified claims circulating on social media and instead seek clarification from relevant Nigerian authorities before transmitting such information to their respective governments.
“The message I want you (DAs and Attaches) to take home is that this government is prepared, willing and capable of conducting elections peacefully, transparently and in accordance with internationally acceptable standards.
“There are no plans to militarise or undermine our electoral process. We shall not do so. All those rants on social media remain what they are, rants,” he said.
Undiandeye made clear that the military would not assume control of the electoral process, stressing that its involvement would be limited to security and logistical support where required.
“The military does not intend to take over or control Nigeria’s electoral process,” he said.
According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would retain responsibility for conducting the elections, while the military would support the process by securing election personnel and materials when necessary.
“As I have explained, our role is to provide logistical support and security for personnel and election materials, while the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, conducts the electoral process,” the CDI said.
CDI Warns Against Misinformation
The Defence Intelligence chief also devoted a significant part of his address to the growing influence of misinformation and disinformation, particularly through social media.
He said unverified reports could create confusion about Nigeria’s security situation and distort perceptions of the country among international partners.
Undiandeye urged the foreign defence advisers and attaches to question information that appeared doubtful and seek confirmation from appropriate authorities.
“We live in an era of misinformation, disinformation and confusion on social media that tends to muddle up what the real story is. We must establish the real story and distinguish facts from falsehoods,” he said.
He explained that the regular operational briefings were intended to provide foreign representatives with authoritative information that could be conveyed to their respective headquarters.
“I always insist that, after the necessary briefing, there should be an extension of the report to you to enable you to file an authoritative report with your headquarters,” he said.
The CDI said some Nigerians living abroad had reportedly expressed concerns about insecurity in the country based on information received through various channels.
He urged foreign representatives who live and operate in Nigeria to assess such reports against their own experiences and observations during visits to different parts of the country.
“Some of you have travelled with me through different parts of Nigeria, including rural communities and other states. Others have travelled independently to different cities.
“The realities you have witnessed speak for themselves, and I do not need to convince you beyond the evidence you have seen,”he said.
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Undiandeye also highlighted what he described as improvements in Nigeria’s security environment, while acknowledging the contribution of international partners to the country’s counter-security efforts.
He thanked foreign defence advisers and attaches for their cooperation with Nigeria, particularly support provided to the armed forces through equipment, training and other forms of security assistance.
According to him, such partnerships had contributed to efforts to reduce the intensity of attacks and limit the number of civilians affected by violence.
“I also appreciate the cooperation and partnership that have helped reduce the intensity of attacks and the number of innocent citizens affected by violence,” he said.
He added that Nigeria remained committed to fulfilling its obligations under memoranda of understanding and other security cooperation agreements with partner countries.
Undiandeye further assured the foreign defence representatives that the Defence Intelligence Agency remained available to clarify reports and address concerns relating to Nigeria’s security situation.
He said direct engagement with Nigerian authorities would help foreign partners distinguish verified information from speculation and unsubstantiated claims.
“My message is simple: if you receive worrying information from any source, our doors are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to clarify matters and help you understand the real situation,” he said.
The CDI also addressed reports alleging that the military had pressured media organisations to stop reporting issues considered unfavourable to the government.
He denied the reports and said such allegations had been circulated internationally, potentially affecting perceptions of Nigeria’s defence institutions.
Undiandeye challenged the foreign representatives to verify such claims before relying on them in reports to their governments.
“All it takes is a simple question: Is this true? What are the circumstances? We are open, we are willing to engage, and we are partners and comrades in arms,” he said.
The Defence Intelligence chief pledged to maintain what he described as candour, truth and integrity in his dealings with the foreign military representatives, including during difficult periods.
“We owe each other the candour of truth and integrity. I promise to uphold truth and integrity at all times, including during difficult periods when doing so may be inconvenient. That is what the military uniform teaches us anyway,” Undiandeye said.
His assurance to the foreign defence advisers comes as Nigeria approaches another major electoral cycle, with political parties, candidates, security agencies, electoral authorities and other stakeholders expected to intensify preparations for the 2027 polls.
The role of security agencies is likely to remain a key issue as the elections draw closer, particularly in view of the country’s security challenges and the need to protect voters, electoral officials, candidates and election materials.
Against that background, Undiandeye’s message to the foreign military representatives was that the armed forces would operate within a security and logistical support role, while INEC would retain control of the electoral process.
He also urged international partners to rely on verified information and direct engagement with Nigerian authorities when assessing developments relating to the country’s security environment and the 2027 elections.
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