Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, has assured citizens that the country’s general elections will be held under secure conditions, despite ongoing insurgency, kidnappings and other security threats in several regions.
Speaking to AFP, Disu said the police force was ready to guarantee a safe voting environment when Nigeria goes to the polls in January, an election in which President Bola Tinubu is expected to seek a second term.
“We are prepared to provide a secure environment for voters,” Disu said, addressing concerns over Nigeria’s history of election-related violence and tension.
Disu took office as police chief just 10 months before the election, placing him at the centre of security planning during a particularly volatile period.
Analysts note his tenure will be closely scrutinised as the force works to protect polling stations, electoral officials and voting materials nationwide.
The reassurance comes as political activity ramps up ahead of the vote, with authorities under pressure to prevent competition among candidates from spilling into violence.
Observers say the coming months will serve as a critical test of the police force’s capacity to deliver on its promise, with the actual security situation on election day likely to determine whether public confidence holds. As January approaches, Nigerians are looking to both politicians and security agencies to safeguard the integrity of the vote.
