The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has unveiled a six-pillar strategy aimed at strengthening election security, protecting voters and electoral personnel, countering misinformation and ensuring police neutrality ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu unveiled the strategy at the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026) in Owerri, Imo State, where he outlined strengthened intelligence and early-warning systems, intensive training and preparedness, joint command and inter-agency coordination, effective communication and technology deployment, sustained community partnership, and absolute neutrality as the pillars of the framework.
Under the plan, police officers will receive intensive training in crowd management, protection of electoral personnel and materials, conflict prevention, rapid response and human-rights-compliant policing.
Disu said particular attention would be given to protecting ad-hoc INEC personnel and vulnerable voters, including women, elderly persons and persons with disabilities.
The strategy will also strengthen joint command and inter-agency cooperation while improving communication, technology, real-time reporting and rapid-response capabilities.
The IGP identified misinformation and disinformation as major threats to electoral peace, warning that fake election results, forged police statements and inflammatory online content could spread rapidly and trigger violence.
He explained that the Police would counter false information with verified facts while investigating and prosecuting individuals who deliberately use online platforms to incite violence.
Another pillar of the strategy will focus on stronger partnerships with traditional and religious leaders, youths, civil society organisations, the media and citizens.
Disu also reaffirmed the Police’s commitment to political neutrality.
“We protect citizens and enforce the law. We do not decide political outcomes,” he declared.
The IGP urged officers to draw lessons from the recent Osun election, which he described as largely peaceful despite isolated incidents, reports of voter intimidation and inducement, as well as operational challenges.
He directed Commissioners of Police to strengthen supervision, ensure that directives from Force Headquarters reached every officer and publish official contact numbers for members of the public.
He also ordered the timely payment of election-duty allowances and duty rotations that would provide officers with adequate rest.
Disu explained that properly supported officers would be less vulnerable to compromise and less likely to overreact in difficult situations.
He warned that officers who took sides, harassed voters, colluded with political actors or abused their powers during elections would face investigation and punishment. Reports from the conference also confirm his warning that officers found taking sides or abusing police powers would be held accountable.
The IGP further stressed that officers must understand the legal limits of their powers and maintain professional conduct whether or not their actions were being recorded.
He said the retreat must produce a practical framework clearly defining responsibilities, timelines, locations and operational procedures before, during and after elections.
The framework, he noted, must guide police training, deployment, command structures and conduct rather than become another document left on a shelf.
“The security of Nigeria cannot be outsourced to the Police, and the success of our elections cannot be left to INEC alone. Peace is a shared duty. But the Police stand first in line, and that is our honour,” Disu said.
He ended by urging officers returning to their commands to remember four words: “Neutral. Prepared. Present. Accountable.”
