President Bola Tinubu has thrown the weight of the Federal Government behind a new police strategy for securing the 2027 general elections as Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu set out a six-point framework built around intelligence, training, inter-agency operations, technology, community engagement and political neutrality.
Tinubu gave the assurance on Monday in Owerri, Imo State, where he declared open the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026. The President was represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The conference, themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” brings senior police officers and other security stakeholders together to work out an operational framework for the 2027 polls.
Tinubu said the elections would demand professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led policing and close coordination among security agencies.
He also pledged federal support for police training, technology, operational logistics, personnel welfare and institutional reforms, areas the administration considers important to the Force’s ability to manage election-related security challenges.
The President warned against partisan policing, saying the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) must serve as a national institution rather than an instrument for political interests.
He said voters, candidates and electoral officials should be able to participate in the democratic process without intimidation, while police officers must respect the rights and dignity of citizens.
Disu lays out six-point framework
Disu subsequently presented the police strategy and identified six areas that will shape preparations for the 2027 elections.
They are strengthened intelligence and early-warning systems; intensive training and operational preparedness; joint command and inter-agency coordination; effective communication and technology; sustained community partnership; and strict political neutrality.
The IGP directed Commissioners of Police to map electoral flashpoints, criminal networks and emerging threats within their respective commands.
The purpose, he explained, is to identify potential trouble spots before violence develops and ensure that useful intelligence reaches the appropriate command quickly enough for preventive action.
The Force also plans specialised training for officers who will handle election duties. The training will cover crowd management, protection of electoral personnel and materials, and policing that complies with human rights standards.
Disu further called for joint exercises involving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other security agencies. The arrangement is intended to clarify responsibilities and improve coordination before, during and after polling.
Police to open election complaints channel
Public communication also features prominently in the police plan.
Disu announced that the Force would establish an official public election complaints line on October 12, 2026, giving Nigerians a direct avenue to report election-related security concerns and incidents.
He also directed Commissioners of Police to make official contact numbers available to the public.
The IGP warned police personnel against taking sides in the electoral contest. Officers found intimidating voters, collaborating with politicians or abusing their authority, he said, would face investigation and appropriate sanctions.
The warning comes as preparations for the 2027 elections advance and political activities increase across the country.
Police reviews security record ahead of polls
Disu also presented an operational account of the Force since he assumed office in February.
He said police operations had led to the arrest of 251 terrorists and suspected bandits, 343 murder suspects, 566 armed robbery suspects and 483 suspected cultists. The operations also resulted in the rescue of 1,066 kidnap victims and the recovery of 947 firearms and more than 22,000 rounds of ammunition, according to the IGP.
Disu acknowledged that such figures do not by themselves resolve the insecurity confronting communities.
He said the Force would continue tackling kidnapping, terrorism, banditry and communal violence while preparing for the elections.
The IGP also cited lessons from the recent Osun State governorship election, particularly reports of voter intimidation and inducement, and ordered a review of police intelligence, response times and training gaps.
Retreat sets October deadline
Disu tasked the senior officers attending CARSPO 2026 with producing a practical roadmap covering police training, deployment and command structures for the 2027 elections.
The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) had announced before the conference that the three-day retreat would focus on intelligence-led policing, police-community partnerships, digital technology and artificial intelligence, alongside measures for protecting voters, electoral officials, candidates and election materials.
The conference is being held in Owerri from September 21 to 23.
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma welcomed the gathering, while senior representatives of the military, police, legislature and other security institutions attended the opening ceremony.
The immediate task before the police is now to turn the six-point framework into concrete preparations, particularly in areas where election-related violence, intimidation and criminal activity could disrupt voting.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the effectiveness of that preparation will depend not only on the policies announced in Owerri but also on how consistently they are applied by officers across the country.
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