Documents obtained by sources have revealed that the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, approved the continued deployment of police security personnel to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)—despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police officers attached to VIPs and government officials.
The approval covers all National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute, and Directors of the Commission nationwide.
WHAT THE DOCUMENTS SHOW
The approval was conveyed in a letter dated January 8, 2026, with reference number CB:2032/IGP.SEC/ABJ/VOL.5/45, signed by the Principal Staff Officer to the IGP, CP Lateef Adio Ahmed.
The letter was titled:
“APPEAL FOR EXEMPTION FROM ORDER TO WITHDRAW POLICE SECURITY PERSONNEL ATTACHED TO VIPs.”
According to the document, the IGP granted INEC’s request following an appeal submitted by the Commission on December 11, 2025.
“I am to notify you that the Inspector-General of Police has graciously approved the request contained in the letter under reference,” the letter stated.
INEC CONFIRMS EXEMPTION
INEC later confirmed the approval in a statement issued on January 19, 2026, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
She explained that the Commission sought the exemption due to the sensitive and high-risk nature of its constitutional responsibilities, particularly election management.
“The request was based on the sensitive nature of the Commission’s activities as well as past records of attacks on the officials and the Commission’s facilities,” the statement said.
Dr. Oriaran-Anthony confirmed that the appeal was successful and that the IGP’s approval had been formally communicated to INEC for record purposes.
TINUBU’S SECURITY DIRECTIVE
President Bola Tinubu had earlier ordered the withdrawal of police personnel from VIPs and government officials, a move aimed at:
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Reducing the misuse of police officers
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Strengthening grassroots and frontline policing
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Redirecting manpower to vulnerable communities
The directive was widely interpreted as applying across the board, with only limited exemptions for constitutionally protected offices.
IGP’S EARLIER POSITION
On November 27, 2025, IGP Egbetokun disclosed that 11,566 police personnel had already been withdrawn from VIP protection and redeployed nationwide.
He described the move as:
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A strategic security decision
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Neither political nor sentimental
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Focused on township and rural security, intelligence-led operations, and rapid response
“The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” the IGP said at the time.
WHY THIS MATTERS
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Confirms INEC’s formal exemption from the presidential directive
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Highlights concerns around election security and staff safety
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Raises questions about who qualifies for exemptions under the new policing strategy
As Nigeria approaches future electoral cycles, the decision underscores the central role of security in election credibility and stability.
