The police commissioners in five States have been replaced by Usman Baba, the Inspector General of Police.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Muyiwa Adejobi, released a statement on Tuesday with information about their redeployment.
The removal of the CPs in Lagos and Adamawa is the primary focal point of the shakeup, which was revealed less than three weeks before the general elections.
Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidates for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), respectively, are both from the States.
The new CPs are Adebola A. Hamzat (Adamawa), Emeka Frank Mba (Ogun), Suleiman A. Yusuf (Taraba), Idowu Owohunwa (Lagos) and Faleye S. Olaleye (Ebonyi).
The postings, according to the Force spokesman, are subject to the approval of the Police Service Commission (PSC).
In late January, the Lagos State Police Command dismissed speculations that Mba had been appointed as the new CP.
In Ebonyi, the police came under criticism last September after a rally for Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi was disrupted.
Operatives fired tear gas and chased Obi’s supporters, leaving some injured. The Governor Dave Umahi administration was accused of ordering the clampdown.
In response, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) asked President Muhammadu Buhari to caution governors against disallowing freedom of assembly during campaigns.