Inspector-General of Police Olatunji Disu has assured Nigerians that police officers will demonstrate professionalism before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
Disu said the Nigeria Police Force was drawing lessons from previous elections to improve its performance during the forthcoming nationwide polls.
The police chief gave the assurance while answering questions from journalists after the launch of The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force, a book written by 96-year-old Dame Stella Okuyiga, a retired Deputy Commissioner of Police and one of the first 20 female officers to join the force.
Police Review Lessons From Previous Elections
According to Disu, the police recently held a conference involving commissioners of police from across the country and other senior officers to discuss preparations for the 2027 elections.
He said the meeting reviewed experiences from recent elections, identifying areas where officers performed well and aspects that required improvement.
The IGP said the lessons gathered would help the force strengthen its operational preparations for what he described as a major election that Nigerians were anticipating.
He expressed confidence that police personnel would perform their duties professionally and earn public trust.
Focus on Professionalism and Public Confidence
The 2027 general elections are expected to require extensive security arrangements, including protection for voters, electoral officials, candidates, election materials and collation centres.
The police will also be expected to respond to potential electoral violence, intimidation and other offences while respecting citizens’ rights and operating within the law.
Disu’s comments place the conduct of police personnel at the centre of preparations for the polls. However, the force’s performance will ultimately be assessed by its actions before, during and after voting.
Book Celebrates Women in the Police Force
The IGP made the remarks at the launch of Okuyiga’s book, which documents the origins and development of women’s participation in the Nigeria Police Force.
Okuyiga, aged 96, retired as a Deputy Commissioner of Police and was among the pioneering group of female officers who joined the organisation.
The publication highlights the history of women in policing and their contribution to the institution.
As preparations for the 2027 elections continue, the police leadership says it intends to build on previous experience and ensure officers carry out their responsibilities professionally.
