Police Promise Security For Elections – Are They Prepared?

As Nigeria strikes in direction of the 2027 common elections, the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the power is able to present safety, even when the elections had been to start instantly.

Disu gave the peace of mind on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, throughout a gathering with a United Nations delegation led by the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simão.

The police chief mentioned officers had been present process coaching and retraining on election safety, whereas the power was collaborating with different safety companies, together with the Nigerian Army, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

He additionally mentioned the police had recognized potential safety challenges and had been making ready to guard voters, together with individuals with disabilities.

However, latest incidents involving political actors have raised questions concerning the power’s capacity to translate its assurances into efficient safety forward of the polls.

On October 30, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Manir Muhammad Dan’iya, alleged that his convoy was attacked close to Sokoto Airport after he escorted former governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to the airport.

The ADC alleged that personnel of the Sokoto Marshal and the state Community Guard obstructed the convoy and that gunshots had been fired. The occasion additionally claimed that two DSS operatives had been detained.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), nonetheless, dismissed the allegations as fabricated and accused the opposition of in search of public sympathy.

In a subsequent account, the DSS mentioned its operatives had evacuated Dan’iya to security, whereas two of its personnel had been allegedly assaulted and had been receiving medical remedy.

The incident got here amid issues by the ADC over safety preparations for its political actions in Sokoto.

Another incident was reported in Ekiti State, the place African Action Congress (AAC) presidential candidate Omoyele Sowore alleged that armed males attacked him and members of his group in Ado-Ekiti on October 30.

Sowore accused the Ekiti State Government and DSS operatives of involvement, allegations that haven’t been independently established.

The Ekiti State Police Command disputed the preliminary declare that Sowore had been kidnapped, saying preliminary info prompt an altercation with unidentified people. The command mentioned officers responded to a misery name, rescued these affected and took them for medical consideration.

The police additionally mentioned Sowore had not formally notified the command of his actions within the state, including that the commissioner of police had ordered an investigation into the incident.

The Ekiti State Government denied accountability and known as for an intensive investigation.

These incidents revive issues about electoral violence and accountability in Nigeria, significantly following the 2023 common elections.

The European Union Election Observation Mission documented assaults on political actors, insufficient safety responses in some areas and issues concerning the prosecution of electoral offences.

Similarly, a joint report by the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, drawing on ACLED information, recorded 274 election-related violence incidents and 348 related fatalities in 2023.

Although the police reported 781 arrests for electoral offences through the 2023 elections, observers raised issues about restricted public info on subsequent prosecutions and sanctions.

With the 2027 elections approaching, the problem for the police might be to show that their preparations can forestall violence, shield political actors no matter occasion affiliation and be certain that allegations of misconduct are investigated impartially