Former Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has warned the Nigeria Police Force against relying on conventional security strategies ahead of the 2027 general elections, saying emerging threats could create new challenges for election security.
Baba gave the warning while delivering a lecture titled “Election Security Governance: Role of the Nigeria Police, Challenges and Way Forward for the 2027 General Elections” at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers, CARSPO 2026, in Owerri, Imo State.
The former IGP said the security environment ahead of the elections would require the police and other security agencies to anticipate threats and adjust their operational strategies accordingly.
“When one situation is blocked, another will open,” Baba warned, stressing the need for commanders to identify emerging threats and prepare for them before they become major security challenges.
He identified kidnapping, armed robbery, cultism, terrorism, cybercrime and other criminal activities as threats that could affect the electoral environment, while also drawing attention to the growing use of technology in criminal activities.
According to him, cybercrime and artificial intelligence-enabled crimes require particular attention because technology that can strengthen policing can equally be exploited by criminals to disrupt security operations and the electoral process.
Baba urged the police to make better use of their cybercrime capabilities and develop intelligence-based strategies to detect and prevent technology-driven attacks.
He also highlighted vote buying and other electoral offences, stressing that election security must involve more than the deployment of personnel on election day.
The former IGP said the police must begin preparations early by identifying potential flashpoints, gathering intelligence and ensuring that operational commanders have the necessary information and resources to respond to threats.
He further stressed the importance of collaboration among the police and other members of the extended policing family, noting that securing the 2027 elections would require coordinated efforts among relevant security agencies and stakeholders.
Baba also reminded police officers of their statutory responsibilities before, during and after elections, including protecting voters, electoral officials and materials, preventing violence, maintaining public order and investigating electoral offences.
The lecture formed part of the second-day activities of CARSPO 2026, which is focused on developing a Nigeria Police roadmap for effective management of security during elections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
