The Department of State Services (DSS) has expanded protective security for presidential candidates and their running mates ahead of the 2027 general elections, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu for opposition contenders to receive protection regardless of their political standing.
The security arrangement covers former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party (LP) candidate Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, alongside other presidential contenders, according to a security source cited by The Nation.
The source said Tinubu had directed security agencies to provide what it described as non-partisan protection for all presidential candidates and their deputies ahead of the campaign season.
“Tinubu is determined to win a free and fair poll. As a democrat, he has security agencies to ensure a level-playing field for all,” the source said.
The DSS deployment also extends to governorship candidates and their running mates, while candidates for the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly in areas identified as potential flashpoints are being placed under surveillance.
The security source said the secret service had already increased its manpower for protective assignments, while some candidates provided specific requirements for their security arrangements.
“The DSS has beefed up security for presidential candidates and their deputies. Some of them have even come up with specifications of their security architecture,” the source said.
The agency’s intervention is intended to give political candidates greater protection as campaigns gather momentum, particularly in areas where security concerns could affect political activity. The source said the arrangement was designed to facilitate unhindered campaigns and support a peaceful election.
“All the governorship candidates and their deputies are also enjoying security cover from the DSS,” the source added.
States considered vulnerable to political violence have also been identified for closer monitoring, particularly during National Assembly and state legislative contests. The source said the DSS initiative would operate alongside security plans being developed by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other agencies.
The security measures were disclosed on the same day the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) published the personal particulars of candidates for the 2027 governorship and state assembly elections.
INEC’s publication includes candidates across several states and gives voters access to information about those seeking elective office. The exercise is meant to be part of the commission’s preparations for the next general elections.
Among the presidential contenders listed in the material are Atiku, Obi of the Labour Party, Omoyele Sowore, Donald Duke, and Sandy Onor of the PDP, alongside candidates of several other parties.
The security source said the protection was not intended to interfere with the responsibilities of other law-enforcement agencies.
Instead, the source said the DSS was deploying personnel to safeguard candidates and create conditions in which political campaigns could proceed without intimidation or security-related obstruction.
The arrangement places the protection of political actors at the centre of preparations for the 2027 contest. Meanwhile, security agencies are expected to monitor vulnerable locations while providing direct cover for candidates and their deputies.
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