2027: IG warns police against political bias

Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu. Photo: NPF

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has warned police officers against political bias ahead of the 2027 general elections, urging them to uphold professionalism, impartiality and respect for human rights.

Disu gave the warning as the Jigawa State Police Command commenced a five-day training programme on election security management to prepare officers for electoral challenges.

The training, themed “Role of Police Officers in Strengthening Electoral Security,” was organised by the Nigeria Police Trust Fund in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force.

Declaring the programme open on Monday at the Manpower Development Institute in Dutse, the state capital, the IG, represented by the state Commissioner of Police, Tijjani Murtala, stressed the importance of continuous training and professional development in preparing personnel for election-related security challenges.

He urged participants to demonstrate discipline and impartiality while protecting lives and property and maintaining public order throughout the electoral process.

Murtala also stressed the need for officers to remain politically neutral, uphold the rule of law and operate within established guidelines.

“We must operate within the principles of democratic policing and ensure that our conduct reflects neutrality and respect for the law,” he said.

He explained that the training was designed to equip officers with the knowledge and practical skills required to prevent electoral violence, manage public gatherings and respond professionally to emerging security threats before, during and after elections.

He urged participants to take advantage of the programme to improve their professional competence and operational readiness ahead of the 2027 polls.

Murtala also commended the Nigeria Police Trust Fund and the IG for their continued support towards strengthening the capacity of police personnel.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to conducting credible, peaceful and violence-free elections through professional, impartial and rights-based policing.

In his remarks, the representative of the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund, Ibrahim Muhammad, emphasised the importance of specialised training in improving officers’ operational capabilities.

He said effective coordination and the provision of modern policing tools were essential to ensuring credible elections.

Also speaking, a consultant and facilitator from the University of Abuja, Prof. Umar D. Muhammad, called for intelligence-led policing and strict adherence to lawful procedures in addressing election-related security challenges.

He said proactive training would help officers prevent violence and respond appropriately to electoral threats.

Similarly, a resource person at the workshop, Prof. Mustapha Hussaini of the Federal University Dutse, emphasised the need for lawful responses to election-related incidents and respect for human rights.

The five-day workshop, attended by members of the Jigawa State Police Command Management Team, covered election security management, crowd control, conflict prevention, rules of engagement, human rights, intelligence gathering and lawful responses to election-related incidents.