Despite being the highest-ranking officer, DIG Frank Mba is passed over for the IGP appointment, as junior officers from the South-West assume top leadership, leaving the South-East unrepresented.

DIG Frank Mba, the most senior serving officer in the Nigeria Police Force, has been bypassed once again in the appointment of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), with AIG Tunji Disu elevated despite being junior in rank.

This marks the second consecutive instance under the current administration in which Mba, holding the highest-ranking position among eligible Deputy Inspectors-General (DIGs) and with sufficient years left in service, has been overlooked.

In 2023, Mba was also passed over in favor of former IGP Kayode Egbetokun, who had fewer years remaining and hailed from the same South-West regional bloc as Disu. The repeated bypass has left the South-East region without representation at the top of the Nigeria Police Force, despite producing the most senior eligible officer.

Force records confirm that Mba was at the top of the hierarchy at the time of both transitions. Yet, appointments continued to favor officers from the South-West, raising concerns about adherence to the federal character principles meant to ensure regional balance in top national appointments.

Security sources and lawmakers note that the extension of Egbetokun’s tenure in 2023 effectively shifted the succession window, blocking Mba from assuming the IGP position. The 2026 appointment followed a similar pattern, consolidating leadership within the same regional bloc while the South-East remains excluded.

Retired senior officers describe this as a departure from long-standing tradition, where IGP appointments typically followed seniority among serving DIGs. The absence of an official explanation has strengthened the perception that the decision was politically and ethnically motivated rather than institutionally guided.