Mahmuda also charge the officers to adhere strictly to the 'Code of Conduct' for election duty.
This is made known in a statement by the Ag. Deputy Director, 2 Division Army Public Relations, Lt.-Col. Danjuma Jonah on Friday.
He said the GOC gave the charge while addressing troops that will be supporting the Nigerian Police for the election, at the Nigerian Army Engineer Construction Command (ECC), Ede, Osun.
He said Mahmuda underscored the critical nature of the task the army has placed on their shoulders, as part of their constitutional role in providing aid to civil authority.
He added that the exercise tagged "Operation Safe Conduct" would be in support of the police, which is the lead agency for the conduct of elections in Nigeria.
He however, maintained that they are to provide outer cordon security, and only respond to situations when called upon to do so, stressing that they must stay away from polling
units, and respond appropriately to any security threat.
The GOC stressed that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.- Gen. Waidi Shaibu expects nothing short of professional conduct by the troops, in support of the police.
He charged them to shun sentiments, or any form of bias, by ensuring that their actions and inactions are guided by Nigeria's national interest.
He also stressed the need for them to be disciplined and maintain a robust disposition, without harassing anybody throughout the period.
He charged them to act and behave as well trained soldiers of the NA, reassuring that all what they require for the seamless conduct of Operation Safe Conduct have been provided, urging them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Mahmuda appealed to residents of Osun to have confidence in the security arrangements put in place for the smooth conduct of the election.
He reassured that nobody will be harassed, as the security arrangements put in place is essentially for the maintenance of law and order for the people to freely exercise their constitutional rights.
