EXCLUSIVE: Inspector-General Egbetokun Flouts Tinubu’s Order, Approves Police Escorts For INEC Commissioners, RECs, Directors

Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that the approval covers all National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), the Acting Director-General of the Training Institute (Electoral Institute), and Directors of the Commission nationwide.

Despite President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police security personnel from VIPs and government officials, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has approved the continued deployment of police officers to officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Documents obtained by SaharaReporters reveal that the approval covers all National Commissioners, Resident Electoral Commissioners (RECs), the Acting Director-General of the Training Institute (Electoral Institute), and Directors of the Commission nationwide.

The approval was conveyed 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 Inspector-General of Police, CP 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 IGP granted INEC’s request following the Commission’s appeal dated December 11, 2025.

“I have the honour to extend the warm compliments of the Inspector-General of Police and acknowledge receipt of your letter INEC/LEG/DR/283/T/34 dated 11th December 2025 on the above underlined subject,” the letter read.

“I am to notify you that the Inspector-General of Police has graciously approved the request contained in the letter under reference.

“Accept the assurances of the esteemed regards of the Inspector-General of Police, please.”

President Tinubu had earlier directed the Nigeria Police Force to withdraw officers attached to VIPs and government officials as part of efforts to reduce the misuse of security personnel and strengthen policing at the grassroots level.

The directive was widely interpreted as applying across board, with only limited exemptions for constitutionally designated offices.

However, the latest approval by the IGP indicates that INEC officials have been formally exempted from the directive.

INEC also confirmed the approval in a statement issued on January 19, 2026, signed by the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriaran-Anthony.

In the statement, the Commission acknowledged the redeployment request approved by the Inspector-General of Police and explained the rationale behind its appeal.

According to Dr. Oriaran-Anthony, INEC had written to the IGP on December 11, 2025, appealing for an exemption from the order withdrawing police security personnel attached to VIPs.

She noted that the request was based on the sensitive nature of the Commission’s constitutional responsibilities, particularly election management, as well as the history of attacks on electoral officials and INEC facilities across the country.

“The Commission had in a letter dated 11th December 2025 appealed to the Inspector General of Police to exempt the Commission from order to withdraw Police security personnel attached to VIPs,” the statement said.

“The request was based on the sensitive nature of the Commission's activities as well as past records of attacks on the officials as well as Commission's facilities.”

Dr. Oriaran-Anthony further confirmed that the appeal was successful.

“Consequent upon the above, I am pleased to inform you that the Inspector General of Police has graciously approved the request. Find attached a copy of the letter conveying the approval for your information and records,” she stated.

“Please accept the assurances of the Commission's warm regards always.”

On November 27, 2025, SaharaReporters reported that Egbetokun said that the Nigerian government’s recent directive ordering the withdrawal of police personnel from Very Important Persons (VIPs) was a deliberate security strategy aimed at boosting frontline policing and protecting vulnerable communities nationwide.

Speaking during a meeting with senior police commanders in Abuja, Egbetokun had said the decision, issued by President Bola Tinubu, was designed to redirect manpower to critical areas where public safety needs are most urgent.

He had stressed that the move was neither political nor sentimental, but rooted in the core mandate of the Nigeria Police Force to ensure the protection of citizens and maintain public order.

“In line with the President’s directive, we have withdrawn a total of 11,566 personnel from VIP protection. These officers are being redeployed to critical policing duties immediately,” the IGP said.

According to him, the withdrawal would enhance manpower deployment for township and rural security, population protection, intelligence-driven operations, proactive patrols, and rapid response to emerging threats across states.

Egbetokun had claimed that the implementation process would be carefully managed to prevent impersonation, misinformation, or misuse of the directive by criminal groups.

He had added that detailed operational guidelines would be released soon.

“The withdrawal is not a retreat from responsibility, but a reclamation of it,” he said.