The Lagos State Police Command has urged political parties to notify it ahead of planned rallies, campaigns, processions and other political activities as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, said advance notification would enable the command to make adequate security arrangements and deploy personnel to protect participants and members of the public.
Fatai made the appeal in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, and published on X.
He assured political parties, candidates and their supporters that the police would provide security for their activities without discrimination.
However, he warned that the command would not tolerate actions capable of disrupting public peace or causing a breakdown of law and order.
The police commissioner further cautioned that political parties that failed to notify the command or disregarded established security arrangements, resulting in a breach of public peace, would face the consequences under the law.
He recalled that during a security meeting held on October 15, political parties and other relevant stakeholders were advised to cooperate with security agencies and comply with safety guidelines ahead of the elections.
The appeal comes amid the police’s statutory responsibility to maintain security during political activities.
Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2022 requires the police to provide adequate protection for the peaceful conduct of rallies and processions. The provision also guarantees registered political parties, aspirants and candidates the right to organise lawful political gatherings.
Fatai urged political parties to work closely with the command to ensure that political activities across Lagos State are conducted peacefully and without violence or disruption.
However, the command clarified that advance notification should not be interpreted as a requirement to obtain police permission before organising political events.
Existing court decisions have established that political parties do not require police permits to hold rallies, while protesters do not need police approval to organise peaceful demonstrations.
