Real reasons Egbetokun was asked to resign as IGP
Inspector-General of Police Kayode Egbetokun was widely reported to have stepped down from his position after being asked to resign by President Bola Tinubu, sparking debate over the real reasons behind his departure and the future direction of Nigeria’s police leadership. Official statements say Egbetokun resigned citing “pressing family considerations,” but multiple independent sources within the presidency and political observers indicate that his exit was not purely voluntary and was influenced by deeper disagreements and performance concerns at the top level of government.
One of the main points of contention reportedly related to a policy disagreement between Egbetokun and the presidency on the issue of state policing. President Tinubu has been a strong advocate for creating state police as part of his efforts to make law enforcement more responsive to local security challenges, but Egbetokun was said to oppose the idea, arguing that Nigeria was not yet “mature and ready” for a system that could be misused by state leaders. This stance was seen as being at odds with the president’s vision and may have contributed to a loss of confidence in his alignment with key security reforms.
Another reason cited by insiders was the handling of a presidential directive on withdrawing police protection from certain VIPs in favour of alternative security arrangements. Sources said that compliance with the directive was “very low,” a situation that reportedly drew concern from the presidency about Egbetokun’s ability to implement high-level policy decisions effectively.
Critics outside government also pointed to broader performance issues during Egbetokun’s tenure, suggesting that rising crime and insecurity in parts of the country may have heightened pressure for leadership change at the Nigeria Police Force. Some analysts described his period in office as controversial and argued that the leadership transition was aimed at injecting new energy and direction into Nigeria’s security architecture ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Despite these reports, there has been no official public statement listing all the internal factors behind Egbetokun’s resignation, and the narrative of family matters remains the formal explanation provided by the presidency. Egbetokun’s departure has nonetheless triggered discussions about policy alignment, leadership performance, and accountability within Nigeria’s security establishment.
About the Author
