President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to police reform, stressing that meaningful transformation of the Force would require sustained investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, operational logistics, welfare and institutional systems.
Tinubu said this while declaring open the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026) in Owerri, Imo State, with Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, unveiling a six-pillar framework to guide policing ahead of the 2027 general elections. The three-day conference, themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” is focused on developing practical strategies for securing voters, electoral officials, candidates and election materials.
President Tinubu tasked the senior police officers attending the retreat to move beyond discussions and produce a clear, practical and implementable roadmap capable of strengthening election security, improving operational preparedness and deepening public confidence in the police.
The President said the preparations should not be limited to the 2027 elections, but should contribute to building a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and citizen-centred police service capable of responding to the changing security needs of Nigeria.
“The 2027 General Elections belong to the Nigerian people,” Tinubu said, stressing that security agencies and other stakeholders had a collective responsibility to ensure that the elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace, security and confidence.
He said citizens must be free to participate in the democratic process without fear or intimidation, while security personnel must operate within the law and maintain professionalism throughout the electoral cycle.
The CARSPO 2026 brings together senior police officers, security experts and other stakeholders to examine emerging electoral security challenges and develop strategies for the period before, during and after the 2027 elections.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, President Tinubu reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Police Force in delivering peaceful and secure elections. He stressed the importance of professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led policing and effective coordination among security agencies, while assuring the Force of continued support in training, technology, logistics, welfare and institutional reforms.
Addressing senior police officers at the conference, IGP Disu outlined six priorities for the Force’s election-security roadmap. They include strengthened intelligence and early-warning systems, intensive training and preparedness, joint command and inter-agency coordination, effective communication and deployment of technology, sustained community partnership, and strict political neutrality.
Disu said election security must begin well before polling day, directing police commanders to identify and map potential electoral flashpoints, criminal networks and emerging threats within their respective commands. He stressed that credible intelligence must reach operational commanders early enough to enable preventive action rather than waiting for violence to occur before responding.
The IGP also emphasised the need to protect vulnerable voters, electoral personnel and materials, while strengthening cooperation between the Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission and other security agencies. He said technology and faster communication would be deployed to improve real-time reporting, situational awareness and response to emerging threats.
The conference coincided with the International Day of Peace, observed in 2026 under the theme “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” Disu said that, for the Police, investing in peace means building professionalism, public trust and proactive security systems capable of preventing violence before it escalates.
As part of preparations for the elections, Disu announced plans for the Nigeria Police Force to establish an official public election complaints line on October 12, 2026. The initiative is expected to provide members of the public with a channel to report election-related security concerns and improve communication between citizens and police authorities.
The IGP also issued a warning against political violence, voter intimidation, vote-buying, the recruitment of thugs and other electoral offences. He declared that police officers who take sides, harass voters, collude with political actors or abuse their powers would face investigation and disciplinary action, reiterating the Force’s commitment to neutrality and accountability.
Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, welcomed participants and expressed satisfaction at hosting CARSPO, while senior government and security officials attended the opening ceremony. The conference is expected to produce an operational roadmap covering police training, deployment, command, intelligence gathering and conduct before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
Several Nigerian leaders aside from the Executive Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and members of the Imo State Executive Council attended the opening ceremony at the Imo International Conference Centre, Owerri. These include President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, GCON, represented by Senator Patrick Ndubueze; Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, Hon. Dr Abubakar Makki Yalleman, represented by Hon. Dibiagwu Eugene Okechukwu; and the Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, represented by Mrs Adigwe A. Nwamaka.
Also present were the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Olatubosun Oluyede, represented by Major General O.A. Fadairo; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Idi Abbas, represented by Rear Admiral S.D. Ibrahim; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Akomaye Parker Undiandeye, represented by Major General K.N. Nwoko; Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, represented by ACG P.C. Chibuoke; Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, represented by CC Ngozi Alice Okereke, and Chairman of the Police Service Commission, DIG Hashimu Salihu Argungu, rtd, represented by DIG Taiwo F. Lakanu.
Former Inspectors-General of Police, IGP Mike Mbama Okiro, rtd and IGP Usman Alkali Baba, rtd, as well as the Chairman of the Police Community Relations Committee, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Olaniyan, and other PCRC members were also in attendance.
