Prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Prince Idowu Ilara, has applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s appointment of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Tunji Disu as Acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP), describing the decision as lawful, strategic and driven by competence rather than seniority.
Ilara, an Ilaje-born leader from Ilaje in Ondo State and Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of I-Larry Synergy Int’l Ltd, who is also an internationally recognised Information Technology expert, made the remarks in a statement to journalists from his office in Abuja.
He said the President acted fully within the provisions of the Police Act (Cap. P19, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, as amended), which empowers the President to appoint the IGP subject to Senate confirmation. According to him, the law does not mandate the appointment of the most senior officer but allows the President to prioritise competence, leadership capacity and prevailing national security needs.
Ilara stressed that the office of the IGP is not a routine promotion but a critical national security responsibility requiring operational expertise, reform-oriented leadership and effective coordination across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). He noted that the IGP leads national security operations, drives internal police reforms and aligns policing strategies with the broader national security architecture, making leadership effectiveness and strategic vision as important as years of service.
Addressing the public uproar over the decision to bypass some senior officers in the Nigeria Police Force, Ilara argued that, globally, military and paramilitary institutions often prioritise strategic suitability and performance over strict seniority in selecting top leadership. He urged stakeholders to view the appointment within the context of ongoing efforts to professionalise the Nigeria Police Force and strengthen national security management.
Describing the appointment as well-deserved, Ilara commended Disu’s more than three decades of service in the Nigeria Police Force, during which he said the new police chief built a reputation for professionalism, discipline and consistent results. He expressed confidence that Disu would bring clarity of purpose, integrity and effective leadership to the role.
Ilara added that Nigeria requires a police force that is accountable, efficient and responsive to citizens’ needs, saying he believes Disu possesses the experience and character necessary to drive meaningful reforms. He described the appointment as a clear signal of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to reform-oriented, performance-driven policing and called on Nigerians to support the new police leadership, stressing that measurable improvements in security outcomes should be the primary focus.
The endorsement comes amid wider public debate over the competence-based appointment and the bypassing of some senior officers, marking what observers describe as a pivotal moment in Nigeria’s policing leadership transition.