Ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has launched a massive “Show of Force” across strategic flashpoints in the nation’s capital.
Police issued a stern warning today to political actors and hate-speech peddlers that no individual’s victory is worth any human life.
The operation, ordered by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Olatunji Disu, across all 36 state commands and the FCT, aims to secure the entire electioneering process and curb potential political violence as campaign activities gather momentum, reports The Nation.
Speaking to reporters during the flag-off exercise along the densely populated Gwagwa-Karmo-Idu axis, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations (DCP), Isyaku Sharu, said the military and security agencies have zero tolerance for acts that could heat up the polity.
“Election is a process beginning from voter registration up to this critical campaign phase, leading to the voting stage. What is most important is the safety and security of the entire process,” DCP declared.
“Hate speech will no longer be tolerated. Election is not war, and nobody’s victory is worth the cost of any human life. You either abide by the rules of the game, or you will be taught a lesson in accordance with laid-down procedures,” he added.
The DCP said security personnel from various agencies are undergoing specialised training on the electoral code of conduct and rules of engagement to ensure high professional standards throughout the exercise.
To further guarantee political stability within the capital, the command announced plans to convene a joint signing of a peace accord involving all chairmen of registered political parties in the FCT.
“The Commissioner of Police is going to call all party chairmen in the FCT to sign a peace accord. While the national leaders signed theirs on August 19, we are replicating it at the FCT level to ensure issue-based campaigns,” he added.
Addressing concerns over the choice of location, the DCP explained that high-density settlements are designated priority zones due to their large voting populations and historical vulnerability during election cycles.
He assured that the operation would extend beyond the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) to cover all satellite towns and area councils, including Abaji and Kwali.
Responding to questions regarding logistics and officer welfare during poll duties, the command dismissed fears of neglect, assuring that adequate provisions have been institutionalised to support field officers.
