Abiodun Warns Police Against Becoming Catalyst for Violence in 2027 Elections

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has urged security personnel to remain professional and impartial during the 2027 general elections, warning them against actions that could trigger violence or undermine the electoral process.

Abiodun gave the warning on Tuesday at a two-day election-security workshop organised by the Ogun State Police Command in partnership with the Development Communication Research Centre Ltd/Gte.

The governor, represented by his Special Adviser on Security, AIG Olusola Subair (rtd.), said the training was designed to prepare officers for their responsibilities before, during and after elections. He noted that police reports could sometimes have implications for electoral outcomes.

“We all need to know that police is a very important component of democracy, and without security, there can be no democracy. That is why the responsibility and the roles to be played by the police is very key in electoral process,” Abiodun said.

He urged officers to apply the lessons from the workshop during the 2027 polls and avoid conduct that could escalate tensions among political parties, candidates and their supporters.

“We want you to be professional in the conduct of this election, in how you are going to manage and secure this particular election. I want to equally enjoin you that you do not make yourself a catalyst for violence during this election,” he stated.

Abiodun also commended security agencies in Ogun for their cooperation and urged them to maintain visibility and take necessary steps to protect voters, electoral officials and other stakeholders during the elections.

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, described election security as a shared responsibility involving security agencies, political parties, candidates, voters, electoral officials, observers and the media.

Ojajuni urged political parties and their supporters to reject violence, intimidation, thuggery, destruction of property and attacks on electoral personnel or facilities. He also called on election officials to perform their duties professionally and impartially, while urging observers and the media to operate within their responsibilities.

The police commissioner further appealed to journalists to maintain accuracy, verification and balance when reporting security incidents, allegations of electoral malpractice and other sensitive issues during the election period.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to maintaining a secure environment where citizens can exercise their right to vote, saying the police would remain professional, impartial and non-partisan.

Speaking at the workshop, communication expert Prof Fassy Yusuf said the success of the 2027 election in Ogun would depend partly on how effectively security agencies coordinate with electoral authorities, government institutions and civil society organisations.

Yusuf said security agencies should work with citizens to protect the electoral process, while an earlier speaker, Bolu Folayan, said elections could be undermined not only by gaps in the law but also by a failure among stakeholders to understand and perform their responsibilities under the law.