As Nigeria prepares for the 2027 general elections, the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, government officials, and security experts have outlined measures aimed at strengthening election security, police professionalism, and public confidence in the democratic process.
The discussions formed the centrepiece of the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026), held in Owerri, Imo State, under the theme ‘Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.’
The three-day conference, which opened on September 21, brought senior police officers and other stakeholders together to examine emerging security threats and develop operational strategies ahead of the 2027 polls.
At the conclusion of the retreat, Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu unveiled a six-pillar election-security framework anchored on intelligence, training, inter-agency coordination, technology, community partnership, and neutrality.
Disu directed senior officers to translate the resolutions of the conference into practical measures across commands and formations, stressing that the effectiveness of CARSPO would be measured by improvements in policing nationwide.
He ordered participants to adopt a ‘train-the-trainers’ model, cascading lessons from the conference to Deputy Commissioners of Police, Area Commanders, Divisional Police Officers, tactical commanders, and other personnel.
The IGP also urged commands to strengthen operational planning, intelligence gathering, personnel training, and community engagement ahead of the elections.
Disu: Police must remain politically neutral
Disu placed political neutrality at the centre of the Force’s election-security responsibilities, stressing that the police must serve the Constitution, the law, and the Nigerian people rather than any political party, candidate, or interest group.
‘The loyalty of the Nigeria Police Force remains with the Constitution, the law, and the Nigerian people, not with any political party, candidate, or interest group,’ Disu said.
He also commended the quality of presentations at CARSPO, describing the conference as a ‘wonderful initiative.’
The IGP particularly highlighted contributions from retired senior police officers, including former IGP Usman Alkali Baba, whose experience managing the 2023 general elections provided participants with practical insights for addressing electoral security challenges in 2027.
Disu said the lectures were stimulating and educative, but stressed that the knowledge gained must translate into improved operational performance.
Uzodimma calls for voter-focused policing
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who hosted the conference at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Centre, said police conduct would have a direct bearing on voter participation and public confidence in the electoral process.
Uzodimma urged the police to prioritise professionalism and combine local knowledge with intelligence-led policing to improve security outcomes.
‘Professionalism must remain a foremost priority to earn public confidence,’ he said. ‘As we approach 2027, the Police must ensure that their actions encourage civic participation rather than intimidate voters.’
The governor called for clearer operational guidelines for security checkpoints and suggested that political candidates undertake sworn commitments against electoral violence.
He also advocated decentralised policing structures, provided safeguards were established to prevent political misuse.
Uzodimma said hosting CARSPO reinforced Imo’s role as a venue for major national engagements on security and institutional development.
Stakeholders seek stronger election institutions
INEC Chairman, Professor Joash Amupitan, identified adequate funding as critical to providing the security and logistics required for the 2027 elections.
He noted that INEC’s responsibilities extend beyond conducting elections to voter registration and registration of political parties, while the Commission has statutory powers to request security deployment during elections and voter registration.
Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, President of the Nigerian Bar Association, urged closer cooperation between the police and INEC, saying effective policing support would be necessary for credible and transparent elections.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation George Akume at the opening ceremony, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the police ahead of the 2027 polls.
He called for professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations and stronger inter-agency coordination, while pledging continued support for police training, technology, operational logistics, welfare and institutional reforms.
Philips: CARSPO delivers security and economic value
For Shina Philips, Managing Director of Lenders Consult International, which coordinated CARSPO 2026, the conference represents both a national security platform and an economic opportunity for its host state.
Philips said the arrival of senior police officers, government officials, security experts, journalists and service providers generated activity across hotels, restaurants, transportation, telecommunications, retail and other businesses.
‘The conference should generate conversations about security, but its impact should extend into the economy. It should strengthen policing, but also strengthen partnerships,’ Philips said.
He said the value of hosting CARSPO should therefore be measured beyond the immediate cost of the conference to include its security, institutional, commercial and reputational benefits.
Imo is hosting CARSPO for the third time, according to Philips, giving the state another opportunity to showcase its capacity to host major national and international gatherings while strengthening relationships among security institutions, government and the private sector.
From conference resolutions to 2027 operations
At the closing ceremony in Owerri, Disu again charged senior officers to ensure that CARSPO’s resolutions do not remain confined to conference rooms.
The six-pillar framework, intelligence, training, inter-agency coordination, technology, community partnership, and neutrality, now provides the broad structure for the Force’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
The challenge, however, will be translating the strategy into consistent field operations across the country’s commands and formations as Nigeria moves closer to the polls.