2027: Tinubu warns police against partisanship

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By Omeiza Ajayi, Abuja

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President Bola Tinubu has warned the Nigeria Police against allowing itself to be used to serve any political interest ahead of the 2027 General Elections, charging officers to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality in the discharge of their duties.

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The President gave the warning at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Senator George Akume.

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Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, in a statement, quoted the president as saying that every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status or geographical location, must feel protected by the Police, stressing that the neutrality and professionalism of the Force are fundamental to public confidence and the credibility of the nation’s democracy.

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“The police must be seen not as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution serving the Nigerian people and protecting the constitutional order. This is fundamental to public trust and to the credibility of our democracy,” the President said.

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Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” Tinubu said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations and close coordination among security and electoral stakeholders, and assured that the Federal Government would provide the necessary support to enable the Force effectively discharge its responsibilities.

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The President explained that securing the electoral process goes beyond protecting ballot papers and polling stations, noting that it also entails protecting citizens, electoral officials and materials, ensuring peaceful campaigns, preventing violence and intimidation, and guaranteeing that Nigerians can participate in the democratic process without fear.

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Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ongoing police reforms, stressing that meaningful reform requires sustained investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, operational logistics, welfare and institutional systems.

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He urged the Force to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, deepen community engagement, embrace technology and enhance inter-agency cooperation to meet increasingly sophisticated security threats.

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The President commended the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, and the Police Management Team for efforts to reposition the Force and respond to emerging security challenges, while acknowledging the sacrifices of officers confronting kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across the country, including those who have paid the ultimate price.

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He, however, reminded the Force that the security expectations of Nigerians remain high, urging officers to continue building public confidence through discipline, accountability, professionalism and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.

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Tinubu tasked senior police officers at the retreat to produce a practical and implementable roadmap that would strengthen election security, improve operational preparedness and deepen public confidence, while looking beyond 2027 towards building a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and citizen-centred Police Force.

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The President assured officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that the Federal Government values their sacrifices and remains committed to supporting them, adding that such support must be matched by courage, integrity, discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their constitutional duties.

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