The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, has assured Nigerians that the Police will demonstrate professionalism, impartiality and commitment to democratic values before, during and after the 2027 general elections.
Mr Disu gave the assurance in a chat with newsmen after the launch of a book titled “The Origin of Women in Nigeria Police Force”, authored by Dame Stella Okuyiga, a 96-year-old retired Deputy Commissioner of Police, in Port Harcourt.
The IGP expressed confidence that the Force would deliver credible security arrangements for the forthcoming elections.
He assured Nigerians that the police would rise to the occasion and make the country proud.
He also disclosed that the police had commenced preparations for the 2027 general elections, including engagements with commissioners of police and other senior officers to review previous electoral experiences and identify areas requiring improvement.
According to him, the review was aimed at strengthening the operational capacity of the Force and ensuring that lessons learnt from previous elections would inform security strategies for the next general elections.
The IGP stressed the importance of adequate planning, professionalism and effective coordination among police formations, noting that the success of electoral security would depend largely on the preparedness and conduct of officers deployed for election duties.
He said the police remained committed to discharging their constitutional responsibilities in a manner that would promote public confidence, protect voters and safeguard the electoral process.
Mr Disu’s assurance comes amid growing public expectations that security agencies will provide a peaceful atmosphere for Nigerians to exercise their franchise without intimidation, violence or other forms of electoral malpractices.
The publication chronicles the history and contributions of women in the Nigeria Police Force, highlighting their service and the role they have played in the development of the institution over the years.
The IGP’s assurance has renewed attention on the responsibility of the police to provide adequate security for the 2027 general elections.
Nigerians expect the Force to uphold professionalism, protect democratic participation and ensure that the electoral process is conducted in a peaceful atmosphere.

King Onunwor

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Chief Nyesom Wike, has defended the formation of his Rainbow Coalition, insisting that the political platform would remain in place ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Chief Wike stated this during a media parley with selected journalists in Abuja, and monitored in Port Harcourt.
He reaffirmed his commitment to supporting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid, despite reported disagreements with some governors of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The minister said his political commitment was to President Tinubu’s second-term ambition and not to individual governors, stressing that he had made no promise to support any governor politically.
“What I’ve said to Nigerians and to Almighty God is, ‘I’m going to support Tinubu for him to realise his second-term ambition.’ I did not promise any governor,” he said.
He also dismissed suggestions that he was seeking political favours from APC governors, citing his past support for some of them during previous political contests.
Chief Wike further insisted that the Rainbow Coalition was not a temporary political arrangement, declaring that it would continue to operate as a platform for mobilising support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If you have any problem with me, come out, bark, and face Wike. Don’t go under the Rainbow Coalition. For the Rainbow Coalition, it has come. It will stay. There’s nothing anybody can do about it,” he said.
However, the Minister’s political position has attracted questions from the Media Adviser to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Mr Paul I’ve, who has challenged Chief Wike to disclose the expenditure and funding sources for his televised media engagements.
Mr Ibe estimated that the broadcasts could cost between ¦ 1.92 billion and ¦ 3.84 billion annually if conducted monthly, based on the assumptions outlined in his assessment. He called for the publication of invoices, details of payments to broadcasting stations and the relevant budgetary provisions.
He argued that residents of the FCT deserved to know how much was being spent on the minister’s media engagements and whether the expenditure was being met with public funds.
According to Mr Ibe, there was nothing wrong with a minister explaining his stewardship to the public, but government resources must be deployed for public purposes rather than personal political disputes.
He also questioned whether the media engagements devoted sufficient attention to infrastructure, public services and other issues affecting residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
Mr Ibe urged Chief Wike to publish the invoices, identify the broadcasting stations allegedly paid, disclose the amounts involved and state the sources of funding and relevant budget lines.
The demand has brought renewed attention to the distinction between government communication and political mobilisation, particularly as political actors position themselves ahead of the 2027 general elections.
However, the information contained in the report does not establish that public funds were used to finance Chief Wike’s media engagements. Neither does it indicate that the minister directly addressed Mr Ibe’s specific demand for invoices and a breakdown of the alleged expenditure during the media parley.
The Minister, as it was gathered, will coordinate the Presidential Campaign for the APC in Rivers State.

King Onunwor

The founder of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Dr Boniface Aniebonam, has disclosed that the party will soon announce a frontline presidential candidate it intends to adopt for the 2027 general election.
Dr Aniebonam made this known in a statement in Lagos, explaining that prolonged litigation over the party’s leadership had left it with insufficient time to select and process a presidential candidate capable of competing with leading contenders from other political parties.
“The one thing that is sacrosanct is that we will adopt a candidate that we believe is best for Nigeria and Nigerians,” he added.
Dr Aniebonam further explained that NNPP members nationwide, maritime practitioners, shippers and other critical stakeholders in the maritime transport and logistics sectors would have a say in determining the presidential candidate the party would adopt for the 2027 election.
He, however, clarified that the party’s participation in other elective positions remained non-negotiable, stressing that its candidates across the country would continue to contest the relevant elections in 2027.
“For now, the only position we will no longer be contesting for is the presidency. By 2031, we would have elected a presidential candidate to compete favourably with other political parties,” he said.

Nkpemenyie Mcdominic