2027: IGP Warns Against Vote Buying, Electoral Violence

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, has warned politicians, political parties and their supporters against vote buying, electoral violence, intimidation and other acts capable of undermining the credibility of the 2027 general elections.

Disu gave the warning at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, where he called for greater professionalism, intelligence-led policing and coordinated security operations ahead of the elections.

The IGP said the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate actions capable of threatening peaceful participation in the electoral process, stressing that the Force must remain professional, impartial and committed to protecting all citizens irrespective of their political affiliations.

The warning came as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented at the conference by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, reiterated the Federal Government’s expectation that the police would maintain the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality in the discharge of their electoral responsibilities.

According to the President, “Every Nigerian, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status or geographical location, must feel protected by the police.”

He said the police must not be seen as an instrument of any political interest but as a national institution serving Nigerians and protecting the constitutional order.

The President said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations and close coordination among security and electoral stakeholders.

He added that the security of the electoral process goes beyond protecting ballot papers and polling stations to safeguarding citizens, electoral officials and materials, while creating an environment where political parties and candidates can campaign peacefully.

The President also urged the police to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, deepen community engagement, embrace technology and enhance inter-agency cooperation.

He noted that criminal networks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and that policing methods must therefore remain adaptive and forward-looking.

The President further charged the senior police officers to use the conference to develop practical and implementable solutions that would strengthen election security, improve operational preparedness and deepen public confidence.

“The roadmap that emerges from this gathering must translate into action, action that will strengthen election security, improve operational preparedness, deepen public confidence and ultimately protect the democratic rights of Nigerians,” he said.