IGP orders heavy security deployment for August 16 Bye-Elections in 13 States

Ahead of the bye-elections scheduled for Saturday, August 16, 2025, in 13 states, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered the deployment of senior officers to oversee security operations and ensure a smooth, credible process.

Assistant Inspectors-General of Police and Commissioners of Police have been assigned to support state commands with effective supervision, while personnel from the Police Mobile Force, Special Intervention Squad, Force Intelligence Department, and other tactical units have also been deployed.

To maintain order, the IGP announced a restriction on all vehicular movement—by road, water, or other means—within the affected Local Government Areas from 12:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on election day.

Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Muyiwa Adejobi, clarified that essential service providers such as INEC officials, accredited journalists, election observers, ambulances on emergency duty, and firefighters are exempted from the restriction.

The IGP also maintained the ban on security aides and escorts accompanying VIPs and political figures to polling units or collation centres. State-owned security outfits, quasi-security bodies, and private security companies are also barred from election-related security duties.

Egbetokun assured that adequate operational logistics have been provided to the affected states, which include Anambra, Kano, Oyo, Taraba, Enugu, Adamawa, Edo, Jigawa, Kogi, Ogun, Zamfara, and Niger, to guarantee a peaceful election.

He urged all deployed officers to strictly follow the Nigeria Police Force’s operational guidelines for election duties and called on citizens to remain law-abiding, assuring that their safety and voting rights will be protected.