IGP Disu Meets UNOWAS Delegation, Reviews Police Preparations for 2027 Elections

IGP Disu Meets UNOWAS Delegation, Reviews Police Preparations for 2027 Elections

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has received a delegation led by the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Mr Leonardo Santos Simão, at the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

The meeting, held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, focused on the Nigeria Police Force’s preparedness for the 2027 general elections and measures to support a peaceful, secure and inclusive electoral process.

Speaking during the visit, Simão said the engagement provided an opportunity to discuss election security in view of the security challenges facing West Africa and the Sahel. He stressed the need to prevent political competition from escalating into violence and maintain public confidence in the impartiality of the Police.

He also sought updates on lessons learnt from previous elections and plans to protect vulnerable voters, particularly internally displaced persons (IDPs).

In his response, IGP Disu said lessons from previous elections, including off-cycle polls, were guiding the Force’s operational planning and training programmes.

He highlighted ongoing training for police personnel and officers of other security agencies to improve coordination, strengthen election security management and address the needs of persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

The IGP also disclosed that threat assessments were being conducted across Police formations to guide deployments and targeted security operations. He said the Force was working with other security agencies to address threats in vulnerable areas, with particular attention to ensuring that internally displaced persons could exercise their electoral rights in a safe environment.

Disu further highlighted the Police’s collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the timely and secure distribution of electoral materials.

He explained that the collaboration, alongside joint training and improved coordination among security agencies, formed part of broader efforts to strengthen preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The Nigeria Police Force reaffirmed its commitment to professional and impartial policing, sustained cooperation with other security agencies and engagement with relevant stakeholders to provide a safe environment for Nigerians to exercise their electoral rights.

IGP Disu Meets UNOWAS Delegation, Reviews Police Preparations for 2027 Elections