IGP Egbetokun Denies Election Rigging, Rejects Call to Arm Citizens Amid Rising Insecurity
By IDNN Political Desk
Abuja, Nigeria — Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has forcefully pushed back against allegations that the Nigeria Police Force played a role in manipulating the 2023 general elections. He also warned that calls for citizens to bear arms for self-defense in the face of insecurity are “dangerous and counterproductive.”
Speaking at the National Democracy Stakeholders Summit, Egbetokun — represented by CP Adewale Ajao of FCT Command — asserted that the Nigeria Police remain neutral arbiters, not enforcers of political will.
“We are not umpires. We do not count votes. The claim that we rig elections is politically motivated and deeply unfair,” he said.
His defense comes amidst a growing wave of discontent over the 2023 polls, where multiple opposition candidates — including Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar — alleged widespread rigging, suppression, and vote tampering.
On Calls to Arm Citizens: “Violence Begets Violence”
Egbetokun also addressed the increasing calls for Nigerians to arm themselves amid rising banditry, kidnappings, and terrorism.
“You cannot cure lawlessness with lawlessness. Arming citizens will escalate violence, not end it.”
Instead, he called for community policing, dialogue, and intelligence sharing as the strategic path forward.
Stakeholders Echo Concern Over Electoral Credibility
Summit participants emphasized that Nigeria’s democratic legitimacy depends on electoral trust. BVAS and electronic transmission reforms were applauded, but experts said poor implementation in 2023 undermined public faith.
Kletsaint Akor, head of the Democracy Stakeholders Group, noted:
“Without electoral legitimacy, governance becomes performative — not productive.”
The summit concluded with a resounding call for police reform, electoral transparency, and security collaboration across agencies and communities.