The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said it is strengthening collaboration with security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections to ensure effective coordination and a peaceful electoral process.
The Ogun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi, disclosed this on Thursday while featuring on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu.
Ibiyemi said election security was a collective responsibility involving INEC, the Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services (DSS), military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies.
She explained that the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) remained the platform through which the agencies reviewed their activities, identified possible challenges and coordinated preparations for elections.
According to her, INEC chairs the committee, while the Commissioner of Police serves as co-chairman, with other security agencies participating in its meetings.
“Actually, I said we have an interagency collaboration committee on election security. And INEC is the chairman of that committee, while the Commissioner of Police is the co-chair. Sometimes, let’s assume that the REC is not available, the police can also chair, and at times, they have meetings even with the Commissioner of Police. All security agencies involved. So that’s where we review our activities.”
The REC said the coordination mechanism operates at federal, state and local government levels, allowing decisions reached at higher levels to be communicated to electoral officers and security personnel at the grassroots.
She said the arrangement was necessary to ensure that personnel deployed to Registration Area Centres and polling units understood their responsibilities and were adequately prepared for election duties.
“This committee is also at the federal, state, and local government levels. So when we have meetings here, we cascade the decisions to the local government level,” she said.
Ibiyemi added that the system would ensure that security personnel at the local government level were aware of developments and understood what was expected of them during the elections.
The Ogun REC also disclosed that INEC had continued to engage the police and DSS in the state as part of preparations for the 2027 polls.
She described the relationship between the electoral commission and the security agencies in Ogun as cordial, saying continued cooperation would be necessary to address security challenges that could arise during the electoral process.
“Since I came here, I told you I’ve not had any issue, and I’m not praying to have any during this coming election. We work together, and nobody is working alone. Nobody is working alone,” she said.
On election logistics, Ibiyemi called for the early deployment of security personnel, particularly to Registration Area Centres where ad-hoc officials are expected to stay before proceeding to their polling units.
She said early deployment would assist in protecting election personnel and facilitate the timely movement of sensitive electoral materials to polling units.
The REC said she had raised the matter with the police on two occasions, urging the command to make adequate arrangements for election-day security.
“On two occasions, I’ve met the police. And I begged them because, you know, I can’t control another organisation. But in the spirit of interagency collaboration, I told them that when you’re having a parade, please don’t do parade on election day,” she said.
She maintained that no single security agency should operate in isolation during elections, stressing that the inter-agency structure was designed to promote cooperation and information sharing among the different institutions.
“Nobody is saying that this is my duty, don’t interfere. It has never happened. It has never happened, and it will not happen. It should not happen,” Ibiyemi said.
She further disclosed that INEC, in collaboration with security agencies, had identified electoral flashpoints during previous electoral exercises, allowing security authorities to pay closer attention to areas considered vulnerable to disturbances.
The REC said the objective was to prevent security challenges from disrupting voting, the movement of election materials and other electoral activities.
Ibiyemi also disclosed that political parties would be expected to sign peace accords ahead of the 2027 elections, with INEC, security agencies, religious leaders and other stakeholders participating in the process.
She said the agreements were intended to encourage political parties and their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully throughout the electoral period.
The REC stressed that security agencies alone could not guarantee a peaceful election, noting that political parties, candidates, voters, the media and other stakeholders also had responsibilities in maintaining a peaceful electoral environment.
She expressed confidence that the existing cooperation among INEC and security agencies in Ogun would continue throughout the 2027 electoral process.
Ibiyemi said regular meetings, information sharing and effective communication from the federal level to the state and local government levels would remain central to the commission’s preparations for the elections.
