The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos, has commenced a capacity building programme for security personnel ahead of the 2027 general elections, with emphasis on professionalism, neutrality and inter agency cooperation.
The one day training, held on Monday at the M.D. Abubakar Hall, Zone 2 Headquarters, was organised in collaboration with the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR).
The programme was themed, “Professionalism, Neutrality and Collaboration: Strengthening Election Security for Safe and Credible Elections.”
The initiative brought together senior police officers, personnel from sister security agencies, electoral officials, traditional institutions, civil society and the media to examine emerging challenges in election security.
Declaring the programme open, retired Commissioner of Police, Emmanuel Ojukwu, said the training was designed to prepare security personnel for the complex responsibilities associated with election security.
Ojukwu said the programme, approved by the Inspector General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, was intended to equip personnel with the knowledge, skills, competence and discretion required before, during and after the elections.
He stressed that neutrality remained fundamental to the credibility of the electoral process, urging security personnel to demonstrate loyalty to Nigeria and the Constitution rather than political parties, candidates or individuals.
According to him, security agencies must conduct themselves in a manner that would strengthen public confidence in the electoral process and protect the democratic rights of citizens.
He also emphasised the importance of inter agency collaboration, noting that the scale and complexity of election security required security and law enforcement agencies to work together toward a common national objective.
Ojukwu said no single agency could effectively address all the security challenges associated with elections without sustained cooperation, information sharing and coordinated operations.
In his welcome address, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, AIG Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, said the programme was convened to bring security and safety institutions together ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Jimoh said the IGP had approved the initiative as part of measures to strengthen security preparations before, during and after the elections across the country.
He explained that although Zone 2 comprises Lagos and Ogun States, the objective of the programme extended beyond the immediate jurisdiction and formed part of a broader national effort to improve election security.
The AIG said professionalism, neutrality and collaboration were essential to strengthening public confidence in the Police, Armed Forces and other agencies deployed for election duties.
He assured residents of Lagos and Ogun that agencies operating under the Inter Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security would work collectively to maintain a safe environment for political campaigns, rallies and other lawful activities.
Jimoh noted that security agencies had responsibilities throughout the electoral cycle, including the ongoing presidential and National Assembly campaigns as well as the forthcoming governorship and State Houses of Assembly campaigns.
He said the Police would collaborate with the Independent National Electoral Commission in accordance with the Electoral Act 2026 to protect INEC personnel, including permanent and ad hoc staff, members of the National Youth Service Corps and electoral offices.
He added that security personnel would also be required to protect sensitive and non sensitive electoral materials and ensure that electoral activities were conducted in an atmosphere free from intimidation and violence.
The AIG urged political parties, candidates and their supporters to respect the law, noting that political activities within the Zone 2 jurisdiction had remained peaceful.
He directed personnel operating under ICCES to be courteous, civil and firm in the discharge of their duties, stressing that effective law enforcement must be balanced with respect for human rights and human dignity.
Jimoh further appealed to traditional rulers, community leaders and parents to discourage young people from being recruited for political violence or other activities capable of disrupting the electoral process.
He warned that the full weight of the law would be brought to bear on individuals and groups that attempted to undermine the peaceful conduct of the 2027 elections.
The AIG also urged the media to support the electoral process through accurate and responsible reporting, peacebuilding and the promotion of national unity.
He cautioned against the use of media platforms to spread misinformation, incite violence or create tension before, during and after the elections.
Speaking on the rationale for the training, the Director General of IPSPR, Dr Charles Omole, described election security as a fundamental requirement for the survival and consolidation of democracy.
Omole said the programme was designed to strengthen the capacity of senior officers in Zone 2 and personnel from other security agencies, with participants expected to transfer the knowledge acquired to officers under their command.
He said election security planning should begin well ahead of election day, stressing that effective preparation would improve operational readiness and make security management during elections more efficient.
Omole commended the Zone 2 leadership for initiating the programme and urged other police formations across the country to adopt similar capacity building initiatives ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a goodwill message, the Air Officer Commanding, Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command, Air Vice Marshal Abubakar Abdul Suleh, said free, fair, peaceful and credible elections were critical to Nigeria’s stability and development.
Suleh urged security personnel to remain impartial, disciplined and restrained, stressing that their allegiance must remain with the Constitution, the Nigerian state and the Nigerian people.
He said where the Armed Forces were required to support civil authorities, such intervention must be lawfully requested and conducted within the provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner, INEC Lagos State, Professor Ayobami Salami, commended the initiative and reaffirmed the importance of the Police as the lead agency responsible for election security.
Salami recalled an incident during the 2023 general election in Ekiti State in which a security officer carrying a ballot box away from a violent polling unit was mistaken by members of a mob for a ballot box snatcher and severely beaten.
He said the incident underscored the need for comprehensive training and proper briefing of security personnel before deployment, particularly on the handling and protection of electoral materials.
Salami stressed that security officers must understand their operational responsibilities while also exercising caution to protect their lives and avoid unnecessary confrontations during volatile situations.
Representing the Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr Ayodele Ogunsan, the Administrative Director, Mr Adegbola Lewis, expressed support for the training.
Lewis reaffirmed the Trust Fund’s commitment to providing equipment, training and logistics support to security agencies operating in Lagos State.
He said the Trust Fund’s regular inter agency training programmes reflected its commitment to joint operations, professional standards and coordinated security planning.
Representing the Oba of Lagos, His Royal Majesty Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu I, the Eletu Odibo, Chief Ajibade Nosiru Ayeni, described traditional institutions as important partners in maintaining peace and preventing violence at the grassroots.
Ayeni commended the Police for organising the training and called for sustained emphasis on professionalism, neutrality, discipline, intelligence gathering and inter agency cooperation throughout the electoral cycle.
The training attracted security, law enforcement and other critical stakeholders from across the South West, highlighting the importance of coordinated preparations for the 2027 elections.
Participating agencies included the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigerian Correctional Service.
Others included the Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Customs Service, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, National Youth Service Corps and National Orientation Agency.
Representatives of the media also participated in the programme, reinforcing the role of responsible communication in promoting peaceful elections and public confidence.
The broad participation underscored the need for joint planning, intelligence sharing, effective coordination and clear operational responsibilities among agencies involved in election security.
The stakeholders agreed that sustained capacity building and strict adherence to the law would be critical to ensuring that security personnel discharge their duties without political bias or unnecessary use of force.
They expressed confidence that stronger inter agency cooperation, professional conduct and respect for citizens’ rights would contribute significantly to safe, peaceful and credible elections in 2027.
The Institute for Police and Security Policy Research, which partnered with the Police on the initiative, focuses on professional policing, public safety, security governance, institutional resilience, election security, community policing, intelligence led policing, public order management and conflict prevention.
Through research, policy analysis, professional training and strategic advisory services, the institute supports security institutions and other stakeholders in developing practical responses to emerging security challenges across Africa.
The Zone 2 initiative therefore represents an early effort to strengthen operational preparedness and ensure that security agencies approach the 2027 electoral cycle with professionalism, neutrality, discipline and a shared commitment to Nigeria’s democratic stability.