The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the continued deployment of police escorts to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel attached to VIPs and government officials
Documents obtained by SaharaReporters show that the approval covers all INEC National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), Directors of the Commission, and the Acting Director-General of the Electoral Institute nationwide.
The approval was communicated 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, Commissioner of Police Lateef Adio Ahmed. The letter was titled “Appeal for Exemption from Order to Withdraw Police Security Personnel Attached to VIPs.”
According to the letter, the Inspector-General granted INEC’s request following an appeal submitted by the Commission on December 11, 2025. The letter formally confirmed that the IGP had approved the continued attachment of police security personnel to INEC officials.
President Tinubu had earlier directed the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to VIPs as part of efforts to curb abuse of police manpower and strengthen security at the grassroots level. The directive was widely understood to apply broadly, with only limited exemptions for constitutionally protected offices.
However, the IGP’s approval indicates that INEC officials have been formally exempted from the directive.
INEC confirmed the development in a statement issued on January 19, 2026, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony. She explained that the Commission had appealed for an exemption due to the sensitive nature of its constitutional responsibilities, particularly election management, as well as the history of attacks on electoral officials and INEC facilities across the country.
According to the statement, the appeal was successful, and the IGP formally approved the continued deployment of police escorts to INEC officials.
Previously, on November 27, 2025, Egbetokun had publicly defended the withdrawal of police personnel from VIP protection, describing it as a deliberate security strategy aimed at strengthening frontline policing and protecting communities. He disclosed that over 11,500 officers had been withdrawn from VIP duties and redeployed to critical security operations nationwide.
He emphasized that the directive was not politically motivated but intended to improve public safety, enhance intelligence-led policing, and ensure effective deployment of police resources.
Despite those assurances, the exemption granted to INEC officials has raised questions about the scope and consistency of the implementation of the presidential directive.
