By Eniola Saliu
The Lagos State chapter of the Allied People’s Movement (APM) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, to redeploy the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, CP Tijani Fatai, over what it described as growing concerns regarding the perceived political neutrality of the state’s police command.
The opposition party based its demand on a widely circulated video showing the police commissioner attending the inauguration of the City Boys Movement, a political group publicly associated with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by its State Publicity Secretary, Ayodele Kazeem, the party said the development had generated legitimate concerns about the impartiality expected of the head of the Lagos State Police Command, particularly as political activities continue to gather momentum.
APM maintained that although public officials may attend events in the course of their official duties, participation in programmes openly identified with a political organisation aligned with the ruling party creates perceptions capable of undermining public confidence in the neutrality of law enforcement agencies.
According to the party, the Nigeria Police Force is a national institution established to serve all Nigerians without regard to political affiliation and is constitutionally expected to discharge its responsibilities with fairness, professionalism and impartiality.
“As the leading opposition party in Lagos State, we are deeply concerned about the message this sends to opposition political parties, their supporters and the electorate,” the statement said.
The party argued that democratic governance can only flourish where security agencies are widely perceived to provide equal protection and fair treatment to all political parties without fear or favour.
It further stressed that public perception of neutrality is as important as neutrality itself, warning that any erosion of confidence in the impartiality of the police could diminish trust in the democratic process.
Consequently, APM urged the Inspector-General of Police to redeploy CP Fatai from Lagos State, saying such a decision would reinforce public confidence in the neutrality of the Nigeria Police Force and reassure political stakeholders that the police remain committed to equal treatment under the law.
The party also called on the police leadership to remind senior officers across the country to avoid actions or public appearances capable of creating the impression of political partisanship or alignment with any political party.
Reaffirming its commitment to democratic ideals, APM said it would continue to advocate for peaceful political participation and the conduct of free, fair and credible elections in which every political party enjoys equal protection and confidence in the neutrality of the nation’s security institutions.
The statement adds to the growing conversation over the role of security agencies in maintaining public confidence during Nigeria’s democratic process, with political actors increasingly emphasising the importance of both actual and perceived neutrality as the country approaches future electoral activities.
