February 06, (THEWILL) — Ahead of the 2027 general elections and other upcoming polls, the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the Inspector General of Police (IGP) have vowed to crack down on vote-buying and political thuggery, assuring Nigerians of violence-free elections.
Security chiefs warned that politicians and their supporters found engaging in election malpractice or violent acts will be identified, reprimanded, and restrained before, during, and after the polls.
The warning was delivered by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, at the first regular consultative meeting of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the commission’s national headquarters in Abuja.
Represented by Hassan Abdullahi, Director of Internal Security at ONSA, Ribadu said adequate security personnel would be deployed to polling stations and high-risk electoral wards. The security measures cover the Area Council Elections in the FCT, various bye-elections scheduled this month, the off-cycle governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun States, the nationwide Voter Revalidation Exercise (VRE), ongoing Continuous Voter Registration, and the general elections in 2027.
“The successful conduct of the Anambra governorship election underscores President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to free, credible, and violence-free elections, setting a positive benchmark for future polls”, Ribadu said.
He emphasised that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), as the lead agency for election security, in collaboration with other relevant agencies, is actively mobilising resources and implementing measures to prevent disruptions.
“Political thugs and politicians with violent dispositions will be identified and restrained, while vote buyers will be traced and apprehended. Political parties, candidates, and their supporters are urged to conduct themselves with decorum and uphold the integrity of the democratic process; any noncompliance will be dealt with severely under the law”, he assured.
Ribadu also called on the media, civil society organisations, community leaders, and citizens to actively support peaceful elections, noting that collective responsibility will strengthen the integrity of Nigeria’s democracy.
Speaking on behalf of the IGP, CP Abayomi Shogunle reaffirmed the police’s commitment to election security.
“We will continue to deploy massively for elections to ensure they are violence-free. Adequate security will also be provided to INEC staff, election materials, and others on duty to enable them perform their tasks without fear”, he stated.
The consultative meeting underscores a coordinated approach by security agencies and INEC to safeguard Nigeria’s electoral process, curb incidents of violence and intimidation, and ensure credible elections as the nation prepares for a series of critical polls leading up to 2027.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
