President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared open the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO 2026) in Owerri, Imo State, with the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, outlining a six-pillar framework to guide election security ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting the Nigeria Police Force with training, technology, operational logistics, welfare and institutional reforms. He stressed the need for professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led policing and effective coordination among security agencies during elections.
The conference, themed “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections,” is focused on identifying emerging electoral security challenges and developing practical strategies for protecting voters, electoral personnel, candidates, materials and the wider public.
Addressing senior police officers, IGP Disu identified six key areas for the Force’s election-security roadmap: strengthened intelligence and early-warning systems; intensive training and preparedness; joint command and inter-agency coordination; effective communication and deployment of technology; sustained community partnership; and political neutrality.
Disu said the Police must strengthen its capacity to identify and respond to threats before they escalate, while Commissioners of Police are expected to map electoral flashpoints, criminal networks and other emerging threats within their respective commands.
The IGP also announced that the Nigeria Police Force would unveil an official public election complaints line on October 12, 2026, ahead of the 2027 elections. He warned against political violence, vote-buying, voter intimidation and other electoral offences.
Disu further cautioned police officers against taking sides in the political process, saying personnel found harassing voters, colluding with political actors or abusing their powers would be held accountable.
The conference coincided with the 2026 International Day of Peace, themed “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day.” Disu said investing in peace requires professionalism, public trust and proactive measures to prevent violence.
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, welcomed participants to the conference and commended the Nigeria Police Force for sustaining CARSPO as a platform for strategic engagement on contemporary security challenges. The three-day conference is scheduled to run from September 21 to 23, 2026.
