The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, has called for stronger collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections, warning that security will be central to the credibility and success of the polls.
Amupitan made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, in Abuja, according to INEC’s bulletin released on Thursday. He said the commission had begun full preparations for the elections, with the Presidential and National Assembly polls scheduled for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are fixed for February 6, 2027.
The INEC chairman described security as both the “first mile and the last mile” of the electoral process, stressing that the release of the election timetable and the commencement of political party activities had already triggered the need for sustained security planning. Amupitan said electoral malpractices, vote buying, political violence and intimidation remain serious threats to public confidence and national stability. He urged the police and other security agencies to conduct early risk assessments, identify potential flashpoints and prevent threats from escalating before election day.
“The scale of insecurity across various parts of the country presents a threat to the conduct of free and fair elections,” he said, calling for thorough security risk analysis ahead of the polls. He also drew attention to upcoming off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states, as well as pending bye-elections across the country, describing them as important democratic milestones that require full security coverage.
Amupitan further emphasized the role of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, which he described as the operational backbone of election safety. He said ICCES must move beyond reactive policing and focus more on intelligence sharing, early warning systems and coordinated protection of voters, electoral officials and election materials.
Responding, IGP Disu assured INEC that the police would act professionally, impartially and in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and other relevant laws. He said the Force had begun nationwide threat assessments and intelligence mapping, identifying political violence, illegal arms, voter intimidation, misinformation, cyber manipulation and attacks on election infrastructure as major concerns.
Disu warned that no party or candidate would receive preferential treatment, adding that officers involved in partisan or unethical conduct would face disciplinary and legal consequences. The police chief also pledged early engagement with political parties through peace accords, stakeholder meetings and specialized training for officers assigned to election duties.
