The Chief of Defence Staff, General Lucky Irabor, says plans are already underway for a hitch-free 2023 general election fixed for February next year.

“We have mapped out our plans along with the police and other security agencies,” Mr Irabor said Wednesday morning on Arise TV, “and we are escalating all our operational engagement to ensuring that we provide safety guarantees that will enable INEC and of course all the stakeholders who are engaged in the exercise.”

The military supremo noted that the general election is a “national exercise” that has also caught the attention of the international community.

He said the world would expect the election to be conducted in an organised manner and secure environment, promising the military’s commitment to ensure a safe and successful exercise.

Mr Irabor’s pledge comes amidst worsening insecurity in the nation, raising concerns about the ability of the security forces to guard the electioneering processes. There are fears over militarisation of elections which often leads to voter apathy among scared polity and collusion with the ruling party.

Yet, recent elections have been fraught with cases vote buying, thuggery and ballot snatching in the face of docile or inadequate security agents at polling stations.