President Bola Tinubu has directed the Nigeria Police Force to develop a comprehensive and practical security roadmap for the 2027 general elections, with a strong emphasis on professionalism, neutrality and the protection of citizens.
Tinubu gave the directive while declaring open the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, themed: “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the President said the Police must ensure the safety of voters, electoral officials and election materials, while also securing campaign activities and polling centres against violence and intimidation.
He warned that the Police must not be used to promote partisan political interests or interfere with the electoral process.
“The police must be seen not as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution serving the Nigerian people and protecting the constitutional order,” Tinubu said.
According to him, maintaining police neutrality would be essential to building public confidence and strengthening the credibility of Nigeria’s democratic process.
Tinubu said election security should go beyond protecting polling units and electoral materials to include safeguarding voters, election officials and the wider electoral environment.
He therefore tasked senior police officers attending the retreat with producing an implementable roadmap that would strengthen the Force’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 elections.
The President also called for improved intelligence gathering, faster response mechanisms, greater community engagement, increased use of technology and stronger collaboration among security and electoral agencies.
Responding to the directive, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, unveiled a six-pillar framework to guide the Force’s preparations for the elections.
The framework includes strengthened intelligence and early-warning systems; intensive training and preparedness; joint command and inter-agency coordination; effective communication and technology deployment; sustained community partnership; and absolute neutrality.
Disu directed Commissioners of Police nationwide to identify and map potential electoral flashpoints, criminal networks and emerging security threats within their respective commands.
He also ordered the strengthening of community-based intelligence systems to enable the Police detect and respond to threats before they escalate into electoral violence.
The IGP warned against political violence, voter intimidation, vote-buying and other electoral offences, stressing that the Police would remain neutral throughout the electoral process.
He further warned that officers found taking sides, harassing voters, colluding with political actors or abusing their powers would face disciplinary action.
Disu also announced that the Police would establish a public election complaints line on October 12, 2026, to enable citizens report election-related concerns.
He said the conference coincided with the International Day of Peace, celebrated this year under the theme, “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.”
The IGP said investing in peace from a policing perspective required professionalism, public trust and proactive measures to prevent violence.
Tinubu, meanwhile, pledged continued Federal Government support for the Police through investments in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, operational logistics, welfare and institutional reforms.
He said the support would strengthen the operational capacity of the Force ahead of the 2027 elections and enable it to respond more effectively to wider security challenges.
The President commended the IGP and the Police Management Team for efforts to reposition the Force, while acknowledging officers engaged in the fight against kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes.
He, however, stressed that government support must be matched with courage, integrity, discipline, accountability and professionalism, adding that officers must respect the rights and dignity of citizens.
Tinubu said the outcome of the retreat should go beyond election preparations and contribute to building a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and citizen-centred Police Force.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, who welcomed the participants, said the state was hosting the conference for the fourth time and commended the Police leadership for sustaining the platform for strategic discussions on security.
Representatives of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio; the House Committee on Police Affairs; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Chief of Defence Staff, Olufemi Oluyede; Chief of Naval Staff, Idi Abbas; and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Hashimu Argungu, were also present at the opening.
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