By Peace Udugba
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is strengthening its collaboration with security agencies ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission’s inter-agency framework will serve as the core platform to coordinate election security across Nigeria’s federal, state, and local government levels.
The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) for Ogun State, Mrs. Feyijimi Saseyi Ibiyemi, disclosed this on Thursday while featuring on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM in Ilese-Ijebu.
Ibiyemi stressed that maintaining election security is not the sole responsibility of INEC. Instead, the commission relies on a coordinated security apparatus involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).
According to her, the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) provides the operational structure for member agencies to review security protocols, evaluate potential threats, and align decisions ahead of the polls.
”INEC chairs the inter-agency committee on election security, co-chaired by the Commissioner of Police,” Ibiyemi said. “If the REC is unavailable, the police take the lead. All participating security agencies meet regularly under this structure to review operations.”
Multi-Tiered Coordination Across Local Levels
The REC explained that the election security architecture operates across all tiers of government, ensuring strategic decisions flow seamlessly from federal command down to state and local government areas.
This multi-level structure ensures grassroots security personnel and electoral officers fully understand operational mandates during voting.
”Decisions made at state meetings are cascaded to local government levels, just as federal directives filter down to the states,” Ibiyemi stated. “This guarantees that local officers—whether police or Civil Defence—know exact procedures on election day.”
She emphasized that inter-agency operations rely on mutual cooperation rather than any single agency exerting total control. Ibiyemi added that working relationships among security heads in Ogun State, particularly the Police Commissioner and the DSS director, remain strong.
Early Deployment and Logistics Support
Highlighting key operational priorities, Ibiyemi identified early personnel deployment as critical to avoiding delays in moving election materials to polling units.
She revealed that INEC had engaged police authorities directly to request early deployment schedules on election day.
”In the spirit of collaboration, we have appealed to police authorities to avoid routine parades on election morning,” Ibiyemi noted. “Prompt deployment to Registration Area Centres (RACs) ensures election materials leave on schedule.”
Addressing concerns from public callers regarding command conflicts among different military and paramilitary bodies, Ibiyemi reiterated that ICCES serves as the unifying platform to align institutional responsibilities.
”No single agency operates in isolation during elections. It has never worked that way, and it should not,” she stated.
Flashpoint Mapping and Peace Accords
Ahead of the 2027 polls, INEC and security agencies have begun identifying potential electoral flashpoints based on data from past election cycles. This proactive mapping allows security forces to pre-deploy resources to high-risk areas to prevent potential disruptions.
Additionally, political parties in the state will be required to sign formal peace accords supervised by INEC, security chiefs, and civil society leaders.
While security forces will guard polling environments, Ibiyemi noted that political parties, voters, and the media share equal responsibility in maintaining peace throughout the 2027 electoral cycle.
