Toyyibat Qasim
The Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, has warned politicians and their supporters against hiring thugs, buying votes, moving arms or threatening voters and electoral officials ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Disu said the Nigeria Police Force would not tolerate electoral violence or other forms of malpractice, declaring that political actors must compete with ideas rather than violence.
The IGP issued the warning on Monday at the sixth conference and retreat for senior police officers in Owerri, Imo State, where he also unveiled a six-pillar framework for policing the 2027 elections.
According to him, the police would collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission to investigate electoral offences, particularly vote-buying and inducement.
Disu stressed that suspects arrested for electoral offences would face prosecution irrespective of their political status.
He said, “To politicians and their supporters, my message is simple. Compete with ideas, not with thugs.
“Do not hire mobs, buy votes, move arms or threaten voters and electoral officials. The police will act against anyone who does that, whatever their status.
“Arrest is not enough; we will work with INEC, EFCC, and ICPC to investigate vote buying and inducement. We will also work with prosecutors so that those arrested will face trial, not just headlines.”
The police chief identified impunity as a major factor encouraging electoral offences and urged Nigerians to participate peacefully in the elections while reporting violations to the appropriate authorities.
“Impunity is the greatest encouragement of electoral crimes. To the people of Nigeria, go out, vote peacefully and report wrongdoing,” he added.
Disu said the police had developed a six-pillar framework to strengthen security and operational preparedness for the 2027 elections.
The framework includes strengthened intelligence gathering and early-warning systems, intensive training and preparedness, joint command and inter-agency coordination, effective communication and deployment of technology, sustained community partnership and absolute neutrality.
The IGP said the measures were designed to improve the police response to electoral threats and ensure greater coordination among security agencies before and during the elections.
The opening ceremony was attended by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, representatives of other security agencies and other government officials.
The warning comes as political activities intensify ahead of the 2027 general elections, with security agencies under increasing pressure to prevent violence, voter intimidation and other electoral offences.
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