The Nigeria Police Force will gather senior officers in Owerri, Imo State, from September 21 to 23 for the sixth Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers (CARSPO) 2026, with a focus on securing the 2027 general elections.
The conference, organised with Lenders Consult International, will focus on developing a roadmap for effective election security.
Its theme is “Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections.”
Senior police officers will discuss ways to support free and fair elections across Nigeria. The conference will also address security before, during and after the 2027 polls.
Recently, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) unveiled the final list of presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The list contains 18 presidential candidates and their running mates and was signed by INEC Secretary Rose Oriaran-Anthony.
The list includes President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Oyo State Governor Oluseyi Makinde of the Allied Peoples Movement (APM), Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke of the Peoples Redemption Party (PRP).
Other presidential candidates include Rufai Adekunle Omo-Aje of the Action Alliance (AA), Abbas-Bin Aliyu of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), Yusuf Kabiru of the Action Peoples Party (APP), Omoyele Sowore of the African Action Congress (AAC), Sunday Adenuga of the Boot Party (BP), Adebisi Olusoji of the Democratic Labour Alliance (DLA), Sunday Okereke of the Labour Party (LP), Adewole Adebayo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Peter Agada of the Young Progressive Party (YPP), and Nwanyanwu Daberechukwu of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).
The list also has two female presidential candidates: Ada Elizabeth Frederick Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and Nkem Esther Okereke of the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
Four women are listed as vice-presidential candidates: Peace Egobia of the APP, Nafisat Usaku of the DLA, Hajja Konto of the LP and Patience Key of the YPP.
The 2027 presidential and National Assembly elections will hold on Saturday, January 16, 2027.
The governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections will take place on February 6, 2027.
However, CARSPO 2026 will examine intelligence-led policing, police-community partnerships, digital technology and Artificial Intelligence. The discussions will also cover other modern ways to strengthen police operations.
The conference will mainly involve officers of the rank of Commissioner of Police and above. It will give them room to develop practical steps to improve the Force’s capacity to manage election security.
The Police will develop strategies to protect voters, electoral personnel, candidates, electoral materials and the wider public during the 2027 elections.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Ani Iniedu, said the conference would bring together senior police officers, policing experts and other stakeholders.
He said participants would examine emerging electoral security challenges and develop practical measures for the polls.
Lenders Consult International President, Dr Shina Philips, said the company’s partnership with the Nigeria Police Force began in 2019.
He said the partnership supports the Police as the lead internal security agency, especially as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.
Philips said Lenders Consult remained committed to helping the Police provide adequate security during the elections.
He also said the company’s position aligns with that of Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, on the Force’s role in the electoral process.
Philips quoted Disu as saying, “Stability of the electoral process largely depends on the Police as the lead agency in internal democracy.”
Philips said Lenders Consult had sponsored every edition of the conference since it received approval to organise the event. He described the sponsorship as the company’s contribution to supporting the Police.
He also urged Nigerians to support the Force in carrying out its constitutional duty to protect society and maintain public order.
Philips said the conference had also grown beyond a domestic gathering, with international participants now attending.
The Imo State Government will host the 2026 edition in Owerri. Philips thanked Governor Hope Uzodimma for agreeing to host the conference for the third time.
The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on September 21 in Owerri.
The Police said the conference forms part of efforts to improve strategic leadership, professionalism and operational readiness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
CARSPO has become a key reform platform for strengthening leadership, operations and modern policing in the Nigeria Police Force.
External links
Nigeria Police Force official website
INEC 2027 election dates and upcoming elections
INEC official 2027 election preparations
