The presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to delay the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election, warning that introducing it before the polls could lead to political misuse.
Obi’s reaction follows the National Assembly’s passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill establishing state police, which still requires approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can receive presidential assent.
In a statement titled “State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse,” Obi acknowledged that decentralised policing is necessary for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria. However, he argued that the current implementation process lacks sufficient safeguards and could be exploited for political advantage.
He stressed that while state police could strengthen security and improve community policing, independent oversight bodies, such as state Police Service Commissions free from executive control, must be established to prevent abuse.
Obi further said there is no guarantee the current administration would not use the new policing structure to influence the 2027 elections by proxy, insisting that postponing its implementation until after the elections would better protect Nigeria’s democracy.
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