2027: Tinubu demands police neutrality, professionalism

President Bola Tinubu. Photo: State House

President Bola Tinubu has warned the Nigeria Police Force against allowing political interests to influence its conduct ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He charged the police to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality, stressing that the Force must not be seen as an instrument of any political interest.

Tinubu gave the warning at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State, where his address was delivered by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume.

The SGF’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.

The President said every Nigerian, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, social status or geographical location, must feel protected by the police.

He said the neutrality and professionalism of the Force were essential to public confidence and the credibility of Nigeria’s democracy.

“The police must be seen not as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution serving the Nigerian people and protecting the constitutional order. This is fundamental to public trust and to the credibility of our democracy,” the President said.

Speaking on the theme of the conference, “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections”, Tinubu said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations and close coordination among security and electoral stakeholders.

He assured the police that the Federal Government would provide the necessary support for the Force to effectively discharge its responsibilities.

The President said securing the electoral process involved more than protecting ballot papers and polling stations, noting that the police must also protect citizens, electoral officials and materials, ensure peaceful campaigns, prevent violence and intimidation, and guarantee that Nigerians could participate in the democratic process without fear.

Tinubu also reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to police reforms, saying meaningful reform required sustained investment in personnel, training, technology, intelligence infrastructure, operational logistics, welfare and institutional systems.

He urged the police to strengthen intelligence gathering, improve response times, deepen community engagement, embrace technology and enhance inter-agency cooperation in tackling increasingly sophisticated security threats.

The President commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Police Management Team for their efforts to reposition the Force and respond to emerging security challenges.

He also acknowledged the sacrifices of police officers confronting kidnapping, terrorism, banditry, armed robbery, cultism and other violent crimes across the country, including officers who had lost their lives in the line of duty.

Tinubu, however, reminded the Force that Nigerians continued to have high expectations of the police, urging officers to build public confidence through discipline, accountability, professionalism and respect for the rights and dignity of citizens.

He tasked senior police officers attending the retreat with producing a practical and implementable roadmap to strengthen election security, improve operational preparedness and deepen public confidence.

The President said the roadmap should also look beyond the 2027 elections towards building a modern, professional, technology-enabled, intelligence-driven and citizen-centred Police Force.

Tinubu assured officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force that the Federal Government valued their sacrifices and remained committed to supporting them.

He, however, said such support must be matched by courage, integrity, discipline and professionalism in the discharge of their constitutional duties.