FG pledges support to Police ahead of 2027 polls

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, pledged Federal Government’s full support to the Nigeria Police Force to ensure peaceful, credible, and seamless General Elections in 2027.

Tinubu made the pledge at the opening of the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026) held in Owerri.

He was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume.

The three-day event has as its theme, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”

Declaring the conference open, Tinubu said that “securing the electoral process is crucial to protecting citizens, electoral officials, and democratic institutions.

“The 2027 General Elections will require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations, and close coordination,” he also said.

He gave assurance that government would enhance the operational capacity, welfare, and institutional effectiveness of the force.

The president commended the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Olatunji Disu, for his efforts to reposition the force.

He also praised officers for confronting kidnapping, armed robbery, terrorism, banditry, and other violent crimes nationwide.

He urged the police authorities to boost intelligence, improve response time and deepen community engagement.

He further enjoined the police to remain neutral and protect all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations.

“Police must be seen as a national institution, not a political tool,” Tinubu said.

He urged police officers to adopt practical solutions to safeguard democracy.

In a remark, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo tasked officers on professionalism and neutrality during the 2027 polls in order to build public trust.

Uzodimma, who said that “security must be treated with urgency,” recalled the 2021 attacks on the police headquarters and custodial centre in Imo.

“Security ceases to be an abstract subject the moment fear begins to alter the ordinary rhythm of life,” he said.

He highlighted the State Government’s efforts, including procuring Armoured Personnel Carriers and inaugurating 7,000 vigilance operatives under state security laws, to support federal agencies.

He warned that digital technology and misinformation present new challenges for election security that required advanced intelligence-led operations.

“Officers will increasingly have to distinguish between genuine threats, political propaganda, deliberate disinformation and lawful expression,” he said.

He further said that lawful political debates and disagreement should be protected as part of a healthy democratic process.

“The duty of the police in such situations is to protect the process without becoming part of the contest,” Uzodimma said.

On state police, he explained that the constitutional amendment had been transmitted to state assemblies.

He advocated decentralisation of the forc backed by proper standards.

Speaking earlier, Disu disclosed that the force had arrested 251 terror suspects and 343 murder suspects since he assumed office in February.

He said that the force also arrested 566 armed robbery suspects, 483 cult suspects, and rescued 1,066 kidnap victims during the same period.

The police chief assured Nigerians that the force would fight ongoing security threats, while simultaneously securing the 2027 polls.

“We will not slow down on these threats because an election is coming.

“We will fight them and secure the elections at the same time,” Disu said.

He warned politicians and their supporters against vote-buying, political violence, moving illegal arms, and hiring thugs.

“Compete with ideas, not with thugs. Do not hire mobs, buy votes, move arms or threaten voters and electoral officials,” he said.

He unveiled a six-pillar election security roadmap, focusing on early intelligence, rigorous officer training, joint agency command, fast communication, public partnerships, and strict political neutrality.

He directed all the state Commissioners of Police to publish their official contact numbers for the public to easily report security concerns.

Disu also warned that any officer, “who colludes with political actors, harasses voters, or takes sides during the elections will be severely punished”.

Other speakers at the event included Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Sen. Patrick Ndubueze; and Chairman, Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu (rtd.), represented by DIG Taiwo Lakano (rtd.).

The Executive Secretary of the Police Trust Fund, Alhaji Mohammed Sheidu; retired Inspectors-General Mike Okiro and Usman Baba; and the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, represented by Maj.-Gen. OA Fadairo, among others, delivered goodwill messages to the conference.