The reshuffle at the top of Nigeria’s police hierarchy has once again underscored a hard political truth: elections shape power — and power shapes appointments.
Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) Frank Mbah has been compelled to retire following the appointment of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Tunji Disu as the new Inspector-General of Police by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, after the resignation of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun.
In the structured ladder of the Nigeria Police Force, a DIG is senior to an AIG. But in a move that has stirred both debate and ethnic sentiments, President Tinubu elevated AIG Disu above his seniors — a constitutional prerogative firmly within his powers as Commander-in-Chief.
The development has not gone down well in some quarters, particularly among sections of the Igbo community, who argue that DIG Mbah, as one of the most senior officers behind the outgoing IGP, should naturally have stepped into the top role. Instead, the nod went to AIG Disu, a Yoruba officer — a decision critics say reflects Nigeria’s persistent “winner-takes-all” political culture.
However, constitutional analysts are quick to point out that the President reserves the right to appoint any serving officer to the position of IGP, regardless of rank or ethnicity. Once such an appointment is made, officers senior to the new appointee traditionally retire to clear the command structure — a long-established practice within the force.
Political observers say the episode reinforces a recurring national pattern: every administration tends to place trusted loyalists and, often, ethnic allies in strategic positions. Whether viewed as political pragmatism or ethnic favoritism, the pattern remains deeply woven into Nigeria’s governance fabric.
As reactions trail the appointment, one message echoes loudly across the political landscape: elections have consequences — and leadership choices reflect the mandate of the ballot.
In Nigeria’s power game, the victor not only wins the vote but also shapes the structure of authority that follows.
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