Imo governor urges neutrality, stronger community intelligence and professionalism ahead of 2027 elections
Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has charged the Nigeria Police Force to protect voters, maintain neutrality and respond firmly to violence and intimidation as the country prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Uzodimma gave the charge on Monday at the opening of the Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026, in Owerri, Imo State, where he stressed the need for professionalism, public trust and effective intelligence gathering in securing the electoral process.
The governor said political debate, criticism of government and other legitimate forms of political expression should not automatically be treated as security threats, but maintained that the police must act decisively whenever violence, intimidation or criminality occurs.
“There are situations where the police must act firmly, and there should be no situation where there is violence, intimidation or criminality,” Uzodimma said.
He said the 2027 elections would place significant responsibilities on the police, including the protection of voters, polling units, electoral officials and sensitive election materials, while also managing interactions with political actors and responding to security threats in identified flashpoints.
According to him, the experience of senior police officers who had participated in previous elections would be critical to ensuring that lessons from past electoral exercises are applied in preparing for the 2027 polls.
Uzodimma stress the importance of community-based intelligence, saying officers who understand the communities where they operate are better positioned to identify unusual movements, unfamiliar faces and other developments that could signal emerging security threats.
He said local knowledge, when properly integrated with professional policing and intelligence systems, could help security agencies detect potential threats before they escalate into violence.
The governor also drew attention to the changing information environment, noting that the rapid spread of information through digital platforms had created new challenges for election security.
He urged the police to strengthen their capacity to distinguish between legitimate political information, misinformation and activities capable of threatening public safety, while making greater use of digital technology and artificial intelligence in intelligence gathering and decision-making.
Uzodimma said public trust would also be central to the success of election security, stressing that the conduct of police officers at polling units could influence citizens’ perception of the neutrality and credibility of the electoral process.
He therefore urged the police to demonstrate professionalism and impartiality in their dealings with political actors and members of the public, particularly during an election period when tensions and political competition are heightened.
The governor further called for stronger communication and coordination among security agencies, observing that some security challenges could persist not because of a lack of institutions, but because of gaps in information sharing and coordination.
He also addressed the debate over the establishment of state police, urging that the practical experiences of senior police officers should form part of the national conversation.
According to him, questions around recruitment, training, discipline, accountability and the potential for political interference must be carefully considered in any framework for state policing.
Uzodimma said the experience of senior officers should not be lost, urging them to deliberately transfer institutional knowledge to younger personnel so that lessons from previous elections and security operations could continue to strengthen the Force.
He linked effective policing and election security to Nigeria’s economic development, noting that insecurity and fear can discourage investment and undermine citizens’ confidence in their communities and institutions.
The governor said the ability of Nigerians to participate in the 2027 electoral process without fear would depend in significant part on the effectiveness and professionalism of security agencies deployed for the exercise.
He urged the senior police officers at the retreat to approach the 2027 elections with a clear understanding of their responsibilities, stressing the need to protect citizens while maintaining the integrity and neutrality expected of the police.
The three-day CARSPO 2026 is focused on developing a Nigeria Police roadmap for the effective management of security during elections and brings together senior police officers and other stakeholders to deliberate on security challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.
