President Bola Tinubu has charged the Nigeria Police Force to remain professional and impartial as preparations intensify for the 2027 general elections.
Tinubu gave the directive on Monday at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026, in Owerri, Imo State.
The President was represented at the opening ceremony by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.
The three-day conference, which runs from September 21 to 23, is themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”
Tinubu said every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status or geographical location, should feel protected by the Police.
“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 Nigerian constitutional order,” he said.
He said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, intelligence-led policing, professionalism and effective coordination among security and electoral institutions.
According to the President, election security must go beyond protecting polling stations and electoral materials to include safeguarding citizens and electoral officials, preventing violence and intimidation, and creating an environment where political parties and candidates can campaign without fear.
Tinubu also pledged continued Federal Government support for police reforms, including investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, logistics, welfare and institutional systems.
He urged the senior officers to improve intelligence gathering, response times and community engagement while making greater use of technology and strengthening collaboration with other security agencies.
The President commended Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu and the Police Management Team for their efforts to reposition the Force.
He also acknowledged officers who have lost their lives while confronting kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes.
Tinubu tasked participants at the retreat with producing a practical and implementable roadmap for election security and operational preparedness ahead of the 2027 polls.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed January 16, 2027, for the presidential and National Assembly elections, while the governorship and State House of Assembly elections will hold on February 6.
At the same conference, IGP Disu warned police personnel against political bias and said officers who collude with political actors or abuse their powers would face investigation and disciplinary action.
Disu also warned politicians and their supporters against hiring thugs and engaging in vote-buying, urging political actors to compete with ideas.
The Police had earlier said CARSPO 2026 would examine emerging electoral-security challenges, with discussions covering intelligence-led policing, police-community partnerships, digital technology and artificial intelligence.
The conference is expected to produce strategies for securing voters, electoral officials, candidates, election materials and the wider public throughout the electoral cycle.
Tinubu urged the officers to reciprocate government support with courage, integrity, discipline, accountability and respect for the rights and dignity of Nigerians.
