RESTRICTED Tamm a patriotic Nigerian; I must discharge my constitutional responsibilities with dligence, professional competence ani respect ‘for the Rule of Law RESTRICTED RESTRICTED CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA DURING ELECTIONS JUNE 2022 4 RESTRICTEDSee RESTRICTED CODE OF CONDUCT RULES OF ENGAGEMENT FOR ARMED FORCES OF NIGERIA PERSONNEL DURING ELECTIONS INTRODUCTION 1, Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has the civic obligation of participating in Nigeria's electioneering process. In accordance with Section 217 of the 1999 Constitution, AFN could also be deployed by the President and Commander-in-chief to assist the Nigeria Police (NP) in maintenance of law and order throughout the electoral process, In pursuance ofthe latter, care needs to be taken to ensure that the laws of the land and personal liberties of citizens are not breached by troops. Hence, the need fora code ofconductand rules of engagement that enumerate the importance of elections, responsibilities of commanders, instructions for military personnel as well as conduct of military personnel on special assignments, 2 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED PART A: IMPORTANCE OF ELECTIONS 2. Elections are the process through which citizens choose their representatives into various organs of government as stipulated by the law. Thisis to ensure that: a. Voters freely choose their representatives to the various organs of government as stipulated by the law. b. Voters make informed choices among the various ideologies and programs offered by the political parties. c. Elected officials are accountable to citizens in the discharge of their duties. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMMANDERS 3. The welfare of Soldier/Ratings/Airmen and their families is a command responsibility. Commanders are therefore obliged to ensure that personnel adhere to the rules and regulations guiding the conduct 3 RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED f elections. This code of conduct seeks to ensure that: a, Personnel observe reveille and tattoo/muster parades as laid down in the Standing Operating Procedure (SOP) especially for movement control b Personnel, whether accommodated in the barracks or not, refrain from participating in political rallies, debates and public discussions throughout the period of elections © Personnel particularly those in the barracks, are encourage to register incentres close to the barracks. d. Personnel are educated on the heed to exercise their civic rights by casting their votes. Personne! that registered are given the opportunity to cast their votes. Therefore, essential duties should be maiutained in such a 4 RESTRICTED eee nT Ee RESTRICTED manners to relieve those on duty to exercise their franchise. f, Personnel report any form of provocative statement or behaviour against their person to the unit, while exercising their franchise. g- Personnel understand that if detained for any reason by the electoral body, they should request that the unit be informed accordingly. h. Personnel should move in pairs while participating in the elections. I. Electoral materials must not be conveyed in military vehicles/boats/aircraft except on special request by INEC and approval by appropriate authority. j Personnel must not be influenced by any means/persons to subvert the voting process or outcome of elections. k. Personnel are conversant with INEC guidelines as it relates to 5 RESTRICTEDJ Periods of registration and voting through seminars/durbars ang formation notice boards lL Personnel are monitored and Controlled during elections, m. Personnel are Conversant with the contents of this code of conducts during elections, nh. Personnel deployed in the conduct of elections are to established communication with the unit periodically ‘throughout/during the elections, o. Event Log/Diary are provided to detachments on electoral duties for immediate reporting, INSTRUC TIONS FOR MILITARY PERSONNEL Military personnel are to strictly comply with the following requirements a. Be conversant with the electoral 6 RESTRICTED Buidelines as stipulated by concerning registration of vote) b. Do not vote in the name of person or encourage wards to d (Impersonation), © Do not encourage wards not the voting age of 18 years and at to partake in electoral ‘Process, 4. Do not conduct yourself j manner to attract disgrace to AFN. © You must not be seen in unifo atthe polling station, Vote in muti, Do not carry any arm/offens; Wweapon/missile to or near polli Stations except detail for speci electoral duty by the commander. 8 Do not carry accoutrement/ki such as cudgel and horsewhip durin 7 RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED elections. h. Do not be in possession of more than one registration card at any time. 1. Do not be in possession of any ballot paper/illegal electoral materials. j. Do not distribute or display election aterials in the barracks. k. Do notact as an agent, canvass for vote or distribute/display campaign materials for any political party in the barracks or allow your wards to do same. u 1. Do not illegally escort/provide security for election materials/persons with a view to perpetrate electoral fraud or influence the outcome of elections in aplace. m, Donotaccept or give any form of inducement/bribe such as money, food, entertainmentand drink with a view to influencing other voters 8 RESTRICTED —— RESTRICTED during/before the voting period. n. Do notaid any polling official or any person purporting to be an electoral official in thumb printing of polling materials or aid in whatever form in falsifying the outcome of election results. o. Do not threaten or use any form of force, violence or intimidation in order to compel anyone to vote or refrain from voting, P. _Do not interfere with a voter casting his/her vote at a polling station even if he/she isa member of your family. q. Donotact or incite others to act in a disorderly manner at a polling station, r. Donotjoin or force others at the polling station to protest or act in a disorderly manner to influence or disrupt the conduct of elections. s 0 not chant slogans in support of any candidate/political party 9 RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED during elections. t. Donotwearany dress/cap or any facial or other decoration in order to support any candidate or intimidate voters. u. Donotdressin sucha manner or use decorated vehicle that depicts support for any political party/candidate. v. Do not convene or attend any meeting in support of any political party/candidate. w. Report any breach of: security or laid down electoral procedure to the appropriate authority. CONDUCT OF MILITARY PERSONNEL ON SPECIAL ELECTORAL ASSIGNMENT 5 Escort Duties. When on escort duties personnel must be guided by the following: a. Do not handle electoral materials 10 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED b. Escort commander must not convey electoral materials in military vehicles/boats/aircrafts except on peculiar cases (difficult terrains) when ordered by the unit commander. ©. Donotengage in educating the electorate on procedures for voting. d. You must not be identified with any political party /agent/candidate standing for election. e. Withdraw toa predetermined position far away from the polling/collation centres on completion of assignment. f. Escort Commander must ensure that electoral materials are escorted to official designated centres. g. Take instructions only from your escortcommander. h. Maintain an Event Log which should be submitted to the unit on completion of theassignment. ai RESTRICTEDical it ei t the Wntning/Collation Centres. n deployed to provid returning/collation centres wen n centres personnel must strictly adhere to the following: a. Remain at a desi, ignated place away from the collation area Sal maintain vigilance, Do not be involved i i hab in collation of Ensure the security E of electoral eel ead materials in conjunction wi le police when ye called upon to d. Maintain an ey i ent Log which proud Be Submitted to the unit “ommanders on completion | assignment, z ane PART B: RULES OF ENGAG ‘ME! GENERAL GU| IDANCE mare 7. The ROE appli 1 PPlicable to guid Personnel involved in special electoral 12 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED duties are as follows: a, The principle of minimum force and proportionality must be applied during theelections, b. Whenever operational situation permits every reasonable effort shall be made to control situation through measures short of using force including personal contact and negotiation, c. The use of lethal force shall only be resorted to if all other means to control the situation have failed and delay could lead to lose of life or serious injury to personnel. d. Any force applied must be limited in its intensity and duration; it must also be commensurate with the level of threat posed. e. Force is only to be used when 3 6. Physical Security at the 13 RESTRICTEDa RESTRICTED absolutely necessary to achieve an immediate aim. f The decision to open fire shall be made only on orders and under the control of the on-the scene Commander, unless there is insufficient time to obtain such order. Fire can however be opened if the life of personnel orany member of the public requiring protection is ingrave danger. g. Fire must be aimed and fontrolled. Automatic fire will only beopenedasalastresort. Indiscriminate firing is not permitted, 1. Avoid collateral damage, js g{ifter fire has ceased, render . medical assistance and record details of incident both in writing and using audio/visual equipment whether or not casualty has been recorded, k. Whenever in doubt, on-the-scene 4 RestAlcteo RESTRICTED commander must seek clarific from nexthigher commander. lL All activities before/d engagement must be reco including audio/video means. APPLICATION OF FORCE 8. The Comds should ensure that a fire applied as follows: a. Against clearly identified ai miscreants. b. To defend oneself and collea against hostile act or intent to hai To resist attempt to abduc detain oneself or colleagues. d. To resist attempt to aby electoral officials or cart a election material. €. To protect government prop from vandalism, £ To protect law abiding citiz and their property, includ election monitors and obser 1 RESTRICTEDRESTRICTED vader imminent threat of physical violence, Sgencies, election officials or law- abiding citizens, To stop perpetuation of heinous crime, I Force must never be used as a Punitive measure, PROCEDURE FOR ARRE: Any person who commits an offence or is reasonably suspected tc have with uted an offence shall be arrested and Possible, 16 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED b. Explain to the Suspect the nature Of offence he/she hy committed if Possible, c Arrest of suspects can he madeat doy ime itis considered necessar prise ort electronically the Procedure of the arrest including exhibits. sible Merneible OF Se suse by applied in carrying out arrest of suspect Kam tteull the suspect and be humane. SAUTION TO PERSONNEL, Ep CTING ARREST 10. “Handling Of exhibit in crime scene requires an expert to do so. Therefore, Peieeanel are nat to touch anything (exhibit) with bare hands. The summary of Buidelinesforpersonnel areas ollnee Ensure preservation of lives and Properties including your own, b. Preset. all necessary ev idence, Photographs, nd other matters, restMfcren————— canes RESTRICTED c. Allexhibits mustbe documented. d. Alllegal orders from commanders must be obeyed. e. Miscreants and hoodlums must be prevented from causing harm to life and property. £, Usingminimum/justifiable force. g Maintain public confidence/integrity of the AFN at alltimes, h. Legal obligation to duty/not above the law, i, Safeguard legal citizens, k. Provide security to the electoral process, LEO IRABOR GEN cbs 18 19 RESTRICTED RESTRICTED