Human rights organizations and opposition figures in Nigeria have criticized the military's role in electoral processes, citing violence and legal violations during the 2019 general elections. The deployment of troops for polling day on February 23 drew sharp condemnation, with reports of shootings, voter suppression, and allegations of a "licence to kill" from President Muhammadu Buhari's orders.
Save Democracy Women (SDW) and Impact Future Nigeria (IFN) staged protests in Abuja, accusing authorities of militarizing elections. IFN convener May Uneku linked the 35% voter turnout to military presence, citing video evidence of violence. "People were killed. The elections were a total charade," she said, referencing footage of soldiers harassing voters.
The February vote left at least 53 dead and many injured, with civil society groups documenting soldiers blocking voters in southern states. The opposition PDP challenged results, alleging military overreach. Buhari's directive for troops to be "ruthless" against ballot box snatchers sparked accusations of a "licence to kill." Army chief Lt-Gen Tukur Buratai affirmed obedience to the president, despite PDP warnings against politicizing the military.
Violence escalated in the Niger Delta, where an army officer and three soldiers were killed in Rivers state, prompting mass displacement. Governor Nyesom Wike accused troops of complicity in 16 civilian deaths, while legal challenges in Kano and Lagos heightened fears of ethnic tensions. Security expert Don Okereke criticized the military's role, calling it an "aberration" that violates constitutional duties.
Analysts argue the military's involvement risks democratic stability. The February election was postponed twice, exacerbating public frustration. With 29 states set to vote on Saturday, concerns persist over voter apathy and potential unrest. The PDP warned that Buhari's order threatened Nigeria's democratic foundations, citing the country's history of six military coups since independence in 1960.
