Former Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has revealed details of his interaction with ex-President Muhammadu Buhari following the 2021 Anambra State governorship election. He made the comments during a candid interview aired on Eset TV on July 28, 2025, in a program that reflected on his time as police chief and the death of the former president.
In the interview, Alkali Baba discussed the pressure surrounding the Anambra election, which was marred by threats and insecurity. He explained how he had personally drafted the police operation plan and appealed to Buhari to allow the police to lead the coordination of all security agencies. The president agreed, giving full backing to the IGP’s strategy.
According to Alkali Baba, the deployment plan involved working closely with the military, state security services, and civil safety agencies. He said despite concerns from some quarters, the goal was to ensure that people were able to vote freely without violence or intimidation.
He also recalled that President Buhari was out of the country on the day of the election. Upon his return, Alkali Baba met him at the airport. At that point, the results had already been announced and the APC had lost.
Alkali Baba admitted he felt uneasy about the meeting, fearing Buhari might be displeased over the outcome.
“The day [Buhari] came, I was jittery because APC didn’t win the election. In the airport, he asked me how it was the election, and I said, ‘Sir, your party failed.’ He said , ‘Yes, I had even congratulated the governor,'” Alkali Baba stated.
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