Nigeria: Lagos Police Ask Political Parties to Notify Command Ahead of 2027 Rallies

What the report says

Lagos State Police Command has asked political parties in the state to notify it in advance of rallies, campaigns, processions and other political gatherings as preparations continue for Nigeria’s 2027 general elections. The request was made by Commissioner of Police Tijani Fatai, according to a statement shared on X by police spokesperson Abimbola Adebisi and reported by Premium Times and distributed by AllAfrica.

The command said advance notice would help it plan security arrangements and deploy officers to cover political events. Fatai said police would provide protection for parties, candidates and supporters without discrimination, while warning that activities likely to disturb public peace would not be tolerated. He also said parties that fail to notify the command or ignore agreed security measures could be held responsible under the law if disorder follows.

The statement comes after a security meeting held on 15 October, where political stakeholders were reportedly urged to work with security agencies and follow guidelines ahead of the elections. The police also pointed to Section 91 of Nigeria’s Electoral Act 2022, which requires security agencies to provide for peaceful rallies and processions while protecting the right of registered parties and candidates to hold lawful political events.

The notice requirement was presented as a coordination measure rather than a demand for permission. In general, Nigerian court rulings have held that police permits are not needed for lawful political gatherings, a point the command also referenced in its statement.