By Okechukwu Nwanguma
On Monday, June 30, the Nigerian Civil Society Situation Room launched the Credibility Threshold for the 2027 general election.
Among the many insights that emerged, one that stood out was the keynote address by Professor Okey Ibeanu, which called for a fundamental shift in our approach to election integrity, moving the spotlight from just the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to the wider web of institutions involved in election administration. Prominent among these is the Nigerian Police Force.
The importance of security to credible elections cannot be overstated. While ballot logistics and voter registration are essential, the overriding factor that determines whether elections are free and fair—or marred by violence and intimidation—is security. The role of the police is thus pivotal, not peripheral.
Unfortunately, recent political manoeuvres by the Tinubu administration signal a dangerous regression into the misuse of security institutions for partisan gain. The President’s circumvention of due process in extending the tenure of Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun is a case in point. The controversial amendment to the Police Act 2020, which allows this extension, was not passed in the interest of institutional reform or national security. Instead, it was rushed through the Senate in a manner that betrayed transparency, accountability, and the very spirit of democratic governance.
In a swift and opaque process, the executive bill proposing the amendment was read three times and passed in one sitting, without a public hearing. This manipulation of the legislative process, which bypassed stakeholder engagement and civil society input, is deeply troubling. It reflects a broader pattern of the politicisation of security agencies to serve personal and political interests, particularly ahead of the 2027 general election.
As noted by the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), the amendment to the Police Act was an “act of bad faith”, designed not to empower the Nigeria Police or improve law enforcement, but to consolidate executive control over the security architecture. By extending the tenure of IGP Egbetokun beyond his mandatory retirement date—set by civil service rules at 60 years of age or 35 years in service—the government has placed political expediency above institutional integrity.
The move violates both the letter and spirit of the Police Act 2020, which prescribes a four-year tenure for the IGP and clearly outlines a process involving the Police Council in making such appointments. These provisions were designed to depoliticise the police leadership and promote professionalism, merit, and predictability in succession. Ignoring these provisions is not only unlawful but demoralising to the rank and file of the Force, as it stagnates promotions and fosters discontent.
This is not the first time the executive has undermined the Police Act. Former President Buhari also disregarded its provisions, appointing IGPs without due consultation or respect for the stipulated tenure. But rather than depart from this illegality, President Tinubu has doubled down on it. The extension of IGP Egbetokun’s tenure, in the absence of meaningful reforms or merit-based justification, signals a repeat of past abuses, now repackaged in a veneer of legality.
The implications for 2027 are ominous. A compromised police leadership, beholden to the president for its continued stay in office, will be hard-pressed to act impartially in politically sensitive situations. From voter suppression to the deployment of force during elections, the consequences of this politicisation will be borne by ordinary Nigerians whose voices will be muffled and whose votes may not count.
If democracy is to survive and thrive in Nigeria, we must guard against the entrenchment of partisan loyalty within our security services. We must insist on the rule of law, institutional independence, and strict adherence to statutory provisions—especially when it comes to the agencies tasked with securing our electoral process.
The extension of IGP Egbetokun’s tenure is not just a breach of civil service norms—it is a calculated move in a larger political chess game aimed at 2027. Civil society, the media, and all stakeholders committed to electoral integrity must raise their voices now before the foundation of democratic policing is irreparably damaged.
Mr Okechukwu Nwanguma is a human rights activist in Nigeria and the Executive Director of RULAAC
