•IGP reads riot act to officers

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State have tasked the police in Nigeria to maintain the highest sense of professionalism in the manner they discharge their duties during the 2027 forthcoming general elections.

The duo were on the same page on Monday in Owerri, on the need for the police to protect the process of the election without becoming part of the contest in their remarks at the opening session of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO) which held at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre.

The Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, in his opening speech could not agree less as he charged the officers to remain neutral, prepared, present, and accountable during the elections.

The theme of the Retreat is: “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”

It attracted the high and mighty in the Nigeria Police Force Structure such as Deputy Inspectors-General, Assistant Inspectors-General and Commissioners of Police, among other senior officers.

They were joined by Heads of other security agencies like the Army, the Navy, Civil Defence, the Directorate of State Security, and others.

All the stakeholders in attendance tasked the Police on impartiality, use of technology, and collaboration.

President Tinubu, Uzodimma and other stakeholders insisted on the Nigeria Police Force strengthening her professionalism, impartiality, intelligence gathering and inter-agency collaboration to ensure peaceful, credible and secure general elections in 2027.

President Tinubu, represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, said the police had a central role 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.

The President also assured the police of continued Federal Government support for reforms, training, technology, welfare and operational logistics, while urging senior officers to translate the Retreat’s roadmap into practical measures for strengthening public confidence in the electoral process.

Uzodimma as the host urged the police to strengthen intelligence-led policing, embrace digital technology and improve inter-agency coordination ahead of the 2027 elections.

The Governor said the changing information environment, misinformation and digital manipulation had created new challenges for election security, stressing the importance of police neutrality and public trust.

He also advocated decentralised policing, saying State police could bring security closer to communities.

However, he acknowledged the need to address recruitment, funding, training, accountability and safeguards against political abuse.

The Governor called for a practical roadmap that would ensure early threat detection, effective intelligence-sharing and coordinated responses while protecting the electoral process without compromising police professionalism and impartiality.

He spoke strongly on any police behaviour that could deter the electorate from coming out to exercise their civic responsibility on the days of the elections, and urged the officers to ensure that there is trickle down effect of the knowledge they acquired during the retreat. “It should be made to get to the rank and file.”

The Governor emphasised that the credibility of elections hinges on whether citizens can cast their votes without fear. This, he noted, places the police at the centre of managing political rallies and campaigns, securing sensitive materials, and protecting election results.

Uzodimma acknowledged that while serious security challenges still persist, Nigeria’s security situation has improved compared to previous years.

He reiterated that the Imo State Government has remained steadfast in supporting the police with equipment and logistics, ensuring that citizens can sleep with their eyes closed.

Furthermore, the Governor disclosed that 7,000 operatives of the Imo Vigilante Organisation have been inaugurated to work in close collaboration with the police, particularly in the area of information gathering, stressing that local knowledge combined with local policing yields more effective security outcomes.

He urged the police to prioritise information management as a critical component of election security, noting that in today’s era, information spreads rapidly while false information spreads even faster, fundamentally altering the landscape of election security.

According to him, the police must detect emerging trends early and communicate effectively, as many security challenges stem from inefficient communication and poor coordination.

Uzodimma further stressed the importance of trust, warning that the police occupy a highly sensitive position during elections where a careless action can be interpreted entirely differently. Their solemn duty, he said, is to protect the process without becoming part of the contest.

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, assured Nigerians that the police would work towards delivering free, fair, credible and peaceful elections in 2027.

He unveiled a six-point roadmap focused on intelligence, training, joint command, communication, community partnership and neutrality.

Disu who pledged that the officers will be neutral, prepared, present and accountable during the period warned against vote-buying, arms mobilisation, intimidation and incitement, stressing that offenders would face prosecution regardless of their status.

He also directed the timely payment of election-duty allowances and warned officers against compromising their neutrality or abusing voters.

The IGP reminded the audience, that election security does not begin and end on Election Day, rather it spans the entire electoral cycle.

He assured Nigerians of the Force’s commitment to delivering a credible and peaceful election security, while charging political actors to find the courage to campaign on issues rather than deploy thuggery as strategy.

He highlighted three actionable pillars namely; that the Force will work hand-in-hand with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to confront impunity, electoral violence and vote-buying.

He stressed that arrest alone will no longer be sufficient as a deterrent for sharp practices during elections.

The IGP insisted that “there will be deployment of intelligence-led and early warning systems, coupled with rapid response frameworks, conflict resolution mechanisms and robust human rights protection—with deliberate attention to women, the elderly and persons with disabilities, plus the protection of INEC

Ad-hoc staff, while promising sustained joint operations with INEC and sister agencies, proactive monitoring and countering of election-related misinformation, and a strengthened partnership with civil society and the media.”

He challenged the officers who will be on the frontline to uphold the highest standards of professionalism.

“They must remain politically neutral. They must be firm against violence. They must be honest, accountable and accessible. They must resist any temptation to collude with politicians. And they must apply force only as a last resort. Officers must be neutral, prepared, present and accountable throughout the process.”

The Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Patrick Ndubueze, commended the experience and professionalism of senior police officers and urged them to develop strategies that would promote peaceful and secure elections. He also called for stronger inter-agency collaboration, accountability and professionalism.

Similarly, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Police Affairs, Makki Abubakar Yalleman, represented by Rt. Hon. Eugene Dibiagwu, called for coordinated strategies based on intelligence gathering, technology, inter-agency cooperation, professionalism and public trust.

He urged the police to remain impartial and engage communities and stakeholders in securing the electoral process.

The Police Service Commission, represented by retired DIG Taiwo Lakana, commended ongoing police reforms in professionalism, technology, welfare, community engagement, intelligence operations and violent-crime response.

He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting effective policing through improved equipment, appointments, promotions, accountability and collaboration.

Other goodwill messages came from the Chief of Defence Staff, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Nigeria; the Nigeria Police Trust Fund; former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro (rtd.); and former IGP Usman Alkali Baba, among others.

While their goodwill messages provided a road map for a successful election, they pledged continued support and collaboration with the police towards sustaining peace and strengthening security in the country.

The event was attended by members of the National Assembly, Imo State Deputy Governor, Lady Chinyere Ekomaru; Secretary to the State Government, Chief Cosmas Iwu; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Barr Nnamdi Anyaehie, and members of the Imo State Expanded Executive Council.

Others include Service Chiefs; representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff; Commissioners of Police; Deputy Inspectors-General of Police; senior police officers, and other security agencies.

The Chairman, Imo State Council of Traditional Rulers/Chairman of South East Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Eze Dr Emmanuel Okeke and other traditional rulers; Local Government Council Chairmen, Councillors and other stakeholders attended the event.

•PHOTO, L:R: Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (Representative of President Bola Tinubu), Sen. George Akume, and Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, when the duo paid a courtesy call on the Governor ahead of senior police officers summit in Owerri… Monday