President Bola Tinubu and Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma have urged the Nigeria Police Force to maintain its professionalism and impartiality ahead of the 2027 general elections. They made the call at the opening of the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State. The retreat, themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security during Elections”, brought together senior police officers and representatives of other security and law enforcement agencies.
Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, warned officers against compromising their neutrality and charged politicians to compete with ideas rather than thuggery. He stated that the police would act against those involved in vote-buying, arms mobilisation, intimidation, and threats to voters or electoral officials. The IGP emphasised the importance of maintaining professionalism and impartiality in the discharge of their electoral responsibilities.
Representing Tinubu at the event, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, said the police had a central responsibility in protecting voters, electoral officials, candidates, and election materials. He urged the force to embrace technology, improve response times, and deepen cooperation with other security agencies. Akume assured the police of continued federal government support for reforms, training, technology, welfare, and operational logistics.
Akume further emphasised that the security of the electoral process was not just about protecting ballot papers or polling stations, but also about protecting citizens and safeguarding electoral officials and materials. He stressed that the 2027 general elections would require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations, and close coordination among all security and electoral stakeholders.
Tinubu directed the police to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, deepen community engagement, and embrace technology. He stressed that the Force must build public confidence through professionalism, discipline, and accountability. The President further emphasised that the federal government expected the Nigerian Police Force to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality in the discharge of its electoral responsibilities.
Uzodimma, who hosted the retreat, urged the police to strengthen intelligence-led policing, embrace digital technology, and improve inter-agency coordination ahead of the elections. The governor noted that misinformation and digital manipulation had created new challenges for election security. He emphasised the need for the police to adapt to these new challenges and develop effective strategies to address them.
The three-day retreat aimed to develop a roadmap for effective management of security during elections. The event brought together senior police officers and representatives of other security and law enforcement agencies to discuss the challenges and opportunities in election security. The outcome of the retreat is expected to shape the police strategy for the 2027 general elections.
Key points
- President Tinubu and Governor Uzodimma urge Nigeria Police to maintain professionalism and impartiality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
- IGP Disu warns officers against compromising neutrality and charges politicians to compete with ideas rather than thuggery.
- The police are directed to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, and deepen community engagement ahead of the elections.
