Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has issued a stern warning to police officers against taking sides in the 2027 general elections. Speaking at the opening of the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026) in Owerri, Imo State, Mr. Disu emphasized that personnel who collude with political actors or abuse their powers will be investigated and punished. The conference, which focuses on developing a roadmap for effective security management during the 2027 general elections, was declared open on behalf of President Bola Tinubu by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The three-day conference, organized in conjunction with Lenders Consult International, brings together senior police officers, policing experts, and other relevant participants to examine emerging electoral security challenges and develop strategies for safe and peaceful elections. Mr. Disu stressed that the police's responsibility for election security would begin well before polling day and extend throughout the electoral cycle. He identified intelligence gathering, planning, training, protection of electoral personnel and materials, violence prevention, and rapid response as critical components of the police's preparations.
Mr. Disu emphasized that police officers must prepare before the crisis, not during the crisis. He said commissioners of police would be expected to identify electoral flashpoints and criminal networks in their respective areas of responsibility while strengthening early-warning systems and ensuring that credible intelligence from communities reaches police commands promptly. The police authorities said deliberations would focus on intelligence-led policing, police-community partnerships, digital technologies, artificial intelligence, and other contemporary approaches to strengthening police operations before, during, and after elections.
Mr. Disu also warned politicians and their supporters against acts capable of undermining the electoral process. He urged them to compete with ideas, not with force, and warned against hiring mobs, buying arms, threatening political opponents or electoral officials, and engaging in other forms of electoral violence. The police chief further said arresting electoral offenders would not be the end of the process, insisting that those arrested must face prosecution.
The police chief outlined six areas that will guide the Force's election-security preparations: intelligence and early-warning systems; training and preparedness; joint command and inter-agency coordination; effective communication and technology; partnership with communities; and neutrality. He said police officers would receive training in crowd management, protection of electoral personnel and materials, conflict prevention, rapid response, and human-rights-based policing. He specifically directed that women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities receive adequate protection during the elections.
Mr. Disu identified misinformation and inflammatory online content as potential triggers of electoral violence. He said the Force would monitor and counter election disinformation quickly, correcting the facts and preventing violence online. The police would also strengthen partnerships with traditional and religious leaders, youths, civil society organizations, the media, and ordinary citizens, who could provide early warnings about emerging tensions.
Declaring the conference open on behalf of President Tinubu, Mr. Akume reaffirmed the federal government's commitment to supporting the Force in preparing for the 2027 elections. The conference theme is "Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections". The conference is scheduled to run from 21 to 23 September.
Key points
- Nigeria's police chief has warned officers against taking sides in the 2027 general elections.
- The police will strengthen election preparedness through training, intelligence gathering, and partnerships with communities.
- The government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the police in preparing for the 2027 elections.
