POLICE PROMOTION CONTROVERSY DEEPENS AS OYO, AKWA IBOM OFFICERS ALLEGE MASS EXCLUSION FROM EXERCISE

There is growing disquiet within the Nigeria Police Force over the alleged omission of officers serving under the Oyo and Akwa Ibom State Commands, among other commands, from the recently conducted general promotion exercise.

Affected personnel who spoke to SaharaReporters expressed frustration and disappointment over what they described as an unexplained disparity in the promotion process, alleging that officers in some commands were completely left out while their counterparts in other state commands were elevated.

ChroniclesReporters reviewed the report and found that a concerned police officer sent a Save Our Soul (SOS) message to SaharaReporters on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, raising concerns over the alleged exclusion and its impact on personnel morale.

The officer alleged that some commands, including Oyo and Akwa Ibom, were completely left out of the exercise, claiming that in some of the affected commands, not even a single officer was promoted.

“I wish to bring to your attention an issue concerning the recent general promotion exercise in the Nigeria Police Force,” the officer stated.

“There are allegations that some commands, including Oyo State Command, Akwa Ibom State Command, and other affected commands, were completely left out of the promotion exercise. In some of these commands, it is alleged that not even a single officer was promoted, while officers in other commands were promoted.”

The alleged disparity has reportedly triggered frustration among affected personnel, particularly officers who believe they had fulfilled the required conditions and waiting period for advancement.

The source said the situation had created a sense of unfairness among personnel serving in the affected commands, especially because they had not been given a clear explanation for the alleged difference in the outcome of the promotion exercise.

“This situation has reportedly caused concern and frustration among affected personnel, particularly those who believe they were qualified and due for promotion,” the officer added.

The affected officers are consequently calling on the Police Service Commission (PSC), the Inspector-General of Police and other relevant authorities to urgently review the promotion exercise and determine whether the alleged omissions were caused by administrative errors, oversights or any form of unfair treatment.

The officers emphasised that they were not demanding promotion for personnel who did not meet the necessary requirements.

“We are not asking for anyone to be promoted without meeting the required criteria. We are simply appealing for transparency, fairness, and a proper review of the promotion exercise so that any genuine omissions can be corrected,” the officer said.

According to the source, the objective is to ensure that officers who genuinely qualified for promotion are not denied career progression because of an administrative error or omission.

The controversy has raised questions about the transparency of the internal promotion process within the Nigeria Police Force, particularly where entire commands are allegedly said to have recorded no promotions while personnel in other commands were elevated.

For many police officers, promotion is not merely a change in rank but an important aspect of career progression, professional recognition and improved responsibilities within the force.

The affected personnel are therefore urging the authorities to conduct an audit of the promotion list and provide a formal channel through which officers who believe they were wrongly excluded can submit complaints for review.

“We want this matter to be brought to public attention and give the affected officers an opportunity to have their concerns heard,” the officer emphasised.

ChroniclesReporters reviewed the allegations and notes that they had not been independently verified at the time of publication.

Efforts to obtain an official response from the Nigeria Police Force were unsuccessful. The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Okokon Edem Iniedu, did not take calls placed to him regarding the alleged omissions.

The police authorities have yet to publicly clarify whether the affected commands were excluded from the exercise, whether the reported absence of promotions resulted from specific eligibility criteria, or whether administrative errors occurred.

The affected officers are now awaiting intervention from the Police Service Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, with calls growing for transparency and a comprehensive review of the promotion exercise.