Police are now tools for political wars – CNPP

The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has raised alarm over what it describes as a growing and dangerous trend of using the Nigeria Police Force to settle political scores, following the recent confrontation at the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

In a strongly worded statement on Tuesday, the CNPP faulted the presence and actions of police officers during the PDP’s internal dispute, describing their involvement as “a gross violation of democratic norms and an abuse of state power.”

The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately put an end to the politicisation of security agencies, insisting that the Commander-in-Chief has a constitutional duty to ensure the neutrality and professionalism of the police.

“Anything short of this endangers Nigeria’s democratic architecture and erodes public trust ahead of the 2027 general elections,” the CNPP warned.

The umbrella body representing all registered political parties also cautioned warring factions within the opposition PDP to refrain from actions capable of destabilising the country or compromising the integrity of the political process. It stressed that internal party disputes must be resolved through established mechanisms rather than through force or state-backed intimidation.

“No political actor has the right to drag public institutions into partisan conflicts,” the statement added.

The CNPP further urged all political parties to adhere strictly to their constitutions and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It emphasised that due process, rule of law, and internal democracy remain essential to stabilising the nation’s political landscape and preventing needless crises.

Reaffirming its commitment to defending democracy, the CNPP maintained that political contests in Nigeria must remain peaceful, lawful, and fair.

“Nigeria’s democracy must not be sacrificed on the altar of political desperation,” it said.