INEC warns of election security risks, seeks Police support for 2027 polls

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has urged the Nigeria Police Force to intensify cooperation with the Commission ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing security as critical to the success of the electoral process.

INEC disclosed in its bulletin on Thursday that Amupitan made the request during a visit to Inspector General of Police Olatunji Disu in Abuja on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the INEC chairman informed the police leadership that preparations for the 2027 elections were already underway, with Presidential and National Assembly elections slated for January 16, 2027, and Governorship and State Assembly elections fixed for February 6, 2027.

Amupitan said the publication of the election timetable and ongoing political activities, including party congresses and conventions, had officially activated the electoral process and created heightened security concerns that require immediate attention from security agencies.

He noted that electoral fraud, vote trading and threats of violence continue to weaken public confidence in elections while also posing broader national security risks.

“The scale of insecurity across various parts of the country presents a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections. It is essential that we carry out thorough security risk analyses ahead of the elections,” he said.

The INEC chairman also stressed the need for adequate security arrangements for upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as bye-elections across the country.

“These elections are crucial milestones in Nigeria’s democratic journey, and it is imperative that they are conducted peacefully and seamlessly,” he stated.

Amupitan further emphasised the importance of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), describing it as the “heartbeat” of election security operations.

“Our success depends on ICCES moving from reactive policing to proactive intelligence coordination,” he said, adding that election security agencies must adopt a coordinated approach to protecting voters, officials and electoral materials.

He congratulated Disu on his appointment as Inspector General of Police and expressed confidence in his ability to support the delivery of credible elections.

In response, Disu assured INEC that the Police Force was fully prepared to carry out its responsibilities professionally and impartially in accordance with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and all relevant laws.

The IGP disclosed that strategic threat assessments and intelligence mapping had already commenced nationwide, with political violence, illegal weapons, voter intimidation, cyber threats, misinformation and attacks on electoral infrastructure identified as priority concerns.

“We will ensure that we enforce electoral laws firmly and we will do it professionally,” Disu said, while warning that officers involved in partisan behaviour or unethical conduct would face strict disciplinary and legal sanctions.

He also advocated for the timely release and circulation of the election timetable to improve planning, logistics, personnel deployment and collaboration among security agencies.

Disu added that the Police would engage political parties through peace accords and stakeholder seminars to encourage peaceful participation in the electoral process. He noted that officers assigned to election duties would receive specialised training on election security, rules of engagement, crowd control, ethical standards and human rights compliance.

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