By Muhammad Amaan
The Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori has called for unity among stakeholders to ensure peaceful conduct of the 2027 General Elections in Nigeria.
CP Bakori made the call while speaking as a panelist at a One-Day Stakeholders Engagement and Peaceful Democratic Participation held Thursday at the Sa’adu Zungur Auditorium, Mambayya House, Kano.
The event, themed “Strengthening Electoral Engagement for Peaceful 2027 General Elections in Nigeria,” was organized by Mambayya House, Aminu Kano Centre for Democratic Studies, Bayero University Kano, in collaboration with Alhabibiyya Islamic Society, Abuja.
Speaking on “Security Preparations Ahead of the 2027 General Elections,” the Commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of the Nigeria Police Force and the Kano Command to delivering a peaceful, free, fair, and credible electoral process.
He noted that providing security during elections is a constitutional mandate of the Police, and assured that strategic planning for 2027 has already commenced to guarantee public safety before, during, and after the polls.
On preparations for the pre-election and campaign period, CP Bakori disclosed that personnel are undergoing training and retraining on election security, rules of engagement, and respect for human rights.
He added that the Command is holding regular engagements with political parties, INEC, traditional and religious leaders, CSOs, and the media.
He also cited the active role of the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security, ICCES, in Kano, which meets periodically to harmonize security plans across agencies.
To address electoral violence, CP Bakori said the Command is carrying out intelligence-led raids to dismantle political thuggery, curb arms proliferation, and tackle drug abuse.
He added that a massive public sensitization campaign against hate speech, fake news, and vote buying is ongoing across radio, television, and social media platforms to promote peaceful participation.
On election day management, CP Bakori stated that an intelligence-driven deployment strategy has been designed for polling units, collation centres, INEC facilities, and other vulnerable areas.
He said priority will be given to the protection of INEC officials and election materials, with zero tolerance for ballot box snatching and violence.
Quick Response Teams, he confirmed, will be on standby in all 44 Local Government Areas, while officers have been warned to remain apolitical, professional, and neutral.
For the post-election period, the Commissioner assured that security will be sustained at collation centres until final results are declared. He said the Command will manage post-election reactions through targeted deployment to hotspots and continuous dialogue with political leaders.
He added that all electoral offenders will be investigated and prosecuted, while mop-up operations will continue to recover arms and ammunition used during the elections.
CP Bakori urged stakeholders to play their part in sustaining peace. He called on political parties to abide by the rules and restrain their supporters, charged the media to verify information and avoid sensationalism, and appealed to traditional and religious leaders to preach peace.
He specifically addressed the youth, urging them to shun thuggery, saying “your future is at stake,” and encouraged citizens to vote peacefully and report suspicious activities to the Command via 08032419754, 08123821575, or 09029292926.
In his closing remarks, CP Bakori assured residents that the Kano State Police Command, in synergy with other security agencies under ICCES, is fully ready for 2027.
“We will secure the process. You secure the peace. Together, we will deliver credible elections in Kano,” he concluded.
The Command, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, remains committed to partnerships with civil society, academia, and faith-based organizations to promote peaceful democratic participation in the state.
