The Inspector-General(I-G) of Police, Olatunji Disu has assured Nigerians that the Nigeria Police Force, in collaboration with sister security agencies, has activated comprehensive operational and tactical assets to guarantee peaceful and credible 2027 general elections.
Disu, who was represented by AIG Alinyenu Idu,in charge of the Police Mobile Force, gave the advice at the World news conference and stakeholders’ meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He pledged that security personnel would exercise legitimate authority rather than force, ensuring that voters could freely exercise their franchise without intimidation.
“Assurances are given here that we hope and believe the upcoming election in January and beyond will be an election that citizens will celebrate, with freedom attained through their democratic rights, ensuring that violence is tamed, citizens are free to come out, and the election has full legitimacy,” Disu said.
The I-G said the force was drawing from a rich institutional memory spanning more than a century to uphold its responsibility as a guardian of social harmony.
He stated that security forces were deploying targeted strategies to moderate election activities, curb potential violence and safeguard the democratic process at all stages.
“We have been able to regulate our actions to moderate election activities, starting from pre-election activities, where we try to activate both operational and tactical assets to review the social fabric of the nation and ensure that the opportunity to participate in electing their leaders does not turn into beds of violence,” he said.
Addressing ongoing security challenges across the country, the IG noted that clearance operations were actively stabilising volatile regions to eliminate pockets of fear and restore public confidence ahead of the polls.
“What the Police is doing currently is to stabilise the various arenas of development and citizens’ activity.
“Clearance operations are currently ongoing around Kogi, Niger, Benue and Taraba to ensure that within time, we will be able to police the various crisis points and ensure there is social harmony for the election,” he said.
Disu assured that security arrangements would cover polling venues, sensitive and non-sensitive election materials, movement logistics, collation centres and the announcement of final results.
He added that special frameworks had also been instituted to protect vulnerable groups, including women, during the electoral process.
Disu revealed that a comprehensive review of pre-election operations would take place in November, followed by an end-of-year briefing to update the public on security readiness by the security agencies.
In his remarks, the chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr Yusuf Dantalle, called on the electoral umpire, security agencies, and the media to maintain high standards of neutrality and professionalism in the 2027 general elections.
Dantalle expressed appreciation for the progress recorded in the Osun election, describing the engagement as an encouraging precedent that Nigerians expect to see sustained in future national elections.
While assuring that political parties would strictly adhere to the guidelines, the IPAC chairman emphasised the need for fairness and non-partisanship among electoral officers.
“This election is peculiar, but political parties will try as much as possible to ensure that we work within the rules, because Nigeria belongs to all of us. In every contest, a winner must emerge,” he noted.
Dantalle also warned both permanent and ad hoc personnel of the commission against taking sides with any political party or candidate.
“We warn INEC officials not to take sides with any political party or candidate. Today you are in INEC, tomorrow you are out.
“We will give you all the support as political parties to ensure that INEC succeeds and Nigeria succeeds,” Dantalle said.
Reminding stakeholders, particularly security personnel, that they were being scrutinised by the public, Dantalle appealed to security agencies to uphold their constitutional oath and resist political pressure while performing their election duties.
“Today you are in uniform, tomorrow you won’t be. We have seen former security officers contesting elections, which shows that some of you may join politics someday.
” You swore to protect the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Please work for Nigeria. It is not easy; you could be under pressure, but work to ensure that the right thing is done. History will remember you for whatever role you play,” he said.
The IPAC leader urged journalists to thoroughly investigate information before disseminating it to curb the spread of unverified claims and misinformation.
“Most of your reporting should be investigated because there is so much information in the public space that is not true. Let us save this country. This election will come and go, but Nigeria will remain,” he urged.
He advised the INEC leadership to intensify stakeholder engagement with political parties in the period leading up to the main elections.