2027 Elections: Police Threaten Arrests Over Campaign Poster Destruction, Political Violence
The Lagos State Police Command has warned politicians and their supporters against destroying campaign posters or engaging in electoral violence ahead of the 2027 general elections, threatening to arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable.
The Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, issued the warning on Thursday during a 2027 General Election Stakeholders’ Security Engagement held at POWA Hall in Ikeja.
Tijani said the command would not tolerate political thuggery, voter intimidation or any activity capable of disrupting public peace before, during and after the elections.
He assured residents that the police had put measures in place to provide security for political campaigns, rallies, candidates, electoral officials and the movement of election materials.
According to the commissioner, the command has identified areas vulnerable to political violence and is strengthening intelligence gathering and operational strategies to prevent security breaches.
He urged political parties and candidates to notify the police ahead of planned rallies and campaigns to allow adequate security arrangements and reduce the risk of clashes between rival supporters.
Tijani specifically warned against the destruction of political campaign posters and billboards, insisting that anyone caught engaging in such acts would face the law.
“Anyone involved in electoral violence will be arrested and prosecuted, irrespective of political affiliation or status,” he said.
The police commissioner also cautioned politicians, bloggers and social media users against spreading misinformation, manipulating video footage or sharing inflammatory content capable of provoking violence.
He advised young people to reject attempts to recruit them as political thugs, warning that those who organised, mobilised or encouraged others to engage in violence could also be held accountable.
Tijani called on political stakeholders and residents to report threats of electoral violence, voter intimidation and other security concerns to the police promptly.
He further urged political parties to take responsibility for the conduct of their supporters and cooperate with security agencies to ensure peaceful political activities throughout the election period.
The commissioner also appealed to journalists to report responsibly and encouraged members of the public to provide credible information that could help the police prevent potential security threats.
Reaffirming the command’s impartiality, Tijani said the police would perform their duties professionally without favouring any political party or candidate.
INEC Urges Stakeholders to Maintain Peace Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Independent National Electoral Commission’s Resident Electoral Commissioner in Lagos State, Professor Ayobami Salami, also urged political parties and other stakeholders to sustain the peaceful atmosphere in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Salami noted that Lagos had remained largely peaceful since the commencement of the electoral cycle, expressing confidence that INEC would conduct an election that residents and stakeholders would be proud of.
He advised the public to verify election-related information before acting on it or sharing reports that could create unnecessary tension.
The REC referred to a media report concerning the display of voter-related materials in some areas, explaining that he contacted INEC officials on the ground to establish the facts.
According to him, the officials informed him that the reports were inaccurate.
Salami therefore urged political parties, journalists and other stakeholders to confirm information with the relevant authorities before circulating it to the public.
He assured stakeholders that INEC was preparing for the forthcoming elections and remained committed to conducting a peaceful, free, fair and credible electoral process.
The commissioner expressed confidence that the electoral process would earn the trust of political parties, residents and other stakeholders.
Security Agencies Attend Stakeholders’ Meeting
Representatives of several security agencies attended the meeting, including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, Federal Road Safety Corps and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
INEC officials, political party representatives, members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria and transport workers were also present.
The engagement brought electoral stakeholders and security agencies together to discuss measures to prevent political violence, protect voters and maintain peace ahead of the 2027 general elections.
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