Police Neutrality Row Deepens As City Boy Movement Counters Opposition, Defends Lagos CP’s Presence At Tinubu Event

• City Boy Movement rejects NDC’s demand for the suspension of Lagos CP Tijani Fatai, insisting his attendance at its Lagos inauguration did not amount to political endorsement.

• Group says the police commissioner was carrying out legitimate security responsibilities, arguing that public officers routinely attend political, civic and religious gatherings to maintain law and order.

• Movement warns against ‘speculation and misinformation’, maintaining there is no credible evidence the Nigeria Police Force has abandoned its constitutional neutrality.

• Statement escalates the controversy after the NDC accused the commissioner of partisan conduct and called for his suspension and resignation over his appearance at the pro-Tinubu event.

July 30, () — The controversy surrounding the appearance of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, at the inauguration of the Lagos chapter of the City Boy Movement took a fresh turn on Thursday as the pro-Tinubu group mounted a robust defence of the senior police officer, insisting there was nothing improper or partisan about his presence at the event.

had earlier reported that the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) demanded the suspension and resignation of Fatai after viral videos showed him at the inauguration of the Lagos chapter of the City Boy Movement in Ikeja. The opposition party alleged that his appearance at the pro-Tinubu gathering projected partisanship and could undermine public confidence in the neutrality of the Nigeria Police Force ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a detailed statement signed by its National Director of Media Monitoring and Rapid Response, Bashir Ahmad, the City Boy Movement dismissed attempts to portray the commissioner’s presence as political endorsement, arguing that the criticism was based on speculation rather than verifiable facts.

The group maintained that senior security officials routinely attend public gatherings in the course of their official duties and that such appearances should not automatically be interpreted as institutional support for the organisers.

According to the movement, the constitutional responsibilities of the Nigeria Police Force include maintaining law and order, protecting lives and property and providing security at lawful public gatherings irrespective of the political, religious or social affiliation of organisers.

“The mere presence of the Commissioner of Police at a public event should not, without more, be interpreted as political endorsement, partisan participation or institutional alignment with the organisers of that event”, the statement read.

It argued that police officers are regularly deployed to political rallies, civic engagements, religious programmes, educational activities and community events where security considerations demand their presence.

The organisation maintained that discharging those responsibilities should not be misconstrued as evidence of political bias.

“Public officers, particularly those charged with maintaining law and order, regularly attend or deploy personnel to public gatherings in the discharge of their official responsibilities”, it added.

Response to Opposition Allegations

The statement was an apparent response to the NDC’s earlier claim that Commissioner Fatai’s appearance at the City Boy Movement inauguration suggested he could be biased in policing political activities during the 2027 elections.

The opposition party had argued that the police chief’s conduct undermined confidence in the Force’s impartiality and called on the Police High Command to suspend and sanction him.

Rejecting that position, the City Boy Movement insisted there was no objective evidence to support allegations that the Nigeria Police Force had abandoned its constitutional obligation of neutrality.

“Accordingly, it is neither fair nor accurate to infer, solely from the Commissioner’s attendance, that the Nigeria Police Force has taken a partisan position or abandoned its obligation of professional neutrality”, it noted.

It urged Nigerians to assess public institutions based on verifiable facts rather than conjecture.

The movement also commended the security arrangements that accompanied the inauguration, describing the policing of the event as professional and instrumental to its peaceful conduct.

It said it neither expected nor sought preferential treatment from security agencies, adding that it only expected protection guaranteed under the Constitution for lawful public assemblies.

“We equally acknowledge and appreciate the professional security arrangements that ensured the peaceful, orderly and incident-free conduct of the inauguration.”

According to the organisation, professional policing remains essential to public confidence in democratic institutions and the protection of citizens’ constitutional rights, including freedom of peaceful assembly.

The group further urged political stakeholders and commentators to avoid spreading misinformation capable of eroding confidence in state institutions.

“We, therefore, urge members of the public, stakeholders and commentators to exercise restraint, promote factual discourse and refrain from attributing partisan motives where no credible evidence exists”, it concluded.