The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has moved to tighten security coordination ahead of the 2027 General Elections, describing security as the “first mile and last mile” of Nigeria’s electoral process.
Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the remarks on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, where he formally requested enhanced collaboration from the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the polls.
Amupitan said the commission had already activated preparations for the elections, with the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly elections are billed for February 6, 2027.
He noted that the release of the timetable and ongoing party activities including ward congresses and primaries under the Electoral Act 2026 effectively mark what he described as a “security trigger” phase in the electoral cycle.
According to him, the combination of political mobilisation, intra-party contests, and nationwide voter engagement heightens the need for proactive security planning.
“We are confident that your vast experience and dedication will greatly enhance our collective efforts towards ensuring a safe and secure electoral process,” he said, while congratulating the IGP on his appointment.
The INEC Chairman also drew attention to off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, alongside several bye-elections nationwide, describing them as critical tests of Nigeria’s democratic stability.
He warned that persistent challenges such as electoral malpractice, vote buying, and politically motivated violence continue to undermine public trust in elections and must be urgently addressed through coordinated security intervention.
“The scale of insecurity across various parts of the country presents a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections,” Amupitan stated, calling for comprehensive risk assessments, intelligence sharing, and early deployment strategies.
He stressed the central role of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES), urging a shift from reactive responses to proactive intelligence-led operations.
Responding, the Inspector-General of Police assured INEC of full readiness to secure the electoral process, saying the Nigeria Police Force would discharge its duties with professionalism, neutrality, and strict adherence to the Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He said the Force had already begun nationwide threat assessments and intelligence mapping to identify flashpoints, noting that risks such as political violence, illegal arms proliferation, cyber manipulation, misinformation, and attacks on electoral infrastructure had been prioritised.
“We will ensure that we enforce electoral laws firmly and professionally,” the IGP said, adding that officers found engaging in partisan conduct would face disciplinary action.
Disu further disclosed plans for intelligence-led deployments, joint security coordination, stakeholder engagements, and peace accords with political actors to reduce tensions ahead of the polls.
He also confirmed that officers assigned to election duties would undergo specialised training on human rights, crowd control, electoral procedures, and ethical conduct.
Both INEC and the Police agreed that early planning, inter-agency collaboration, and intelligence sharing would be central to delivering peaceful, credible, and transparent elections in 2027.