Obi urges Tinubu to delay state police implementation until after 2027 polls

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to postpone the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election, warning that introducing the new policing system before the polls could expose it to political abuse.

Obi made the call on Friday in a statement posted on his X account, where he described the establishment of state police as a welcome reform but expressed reservations over the manner in which it is being implemented.

His intervention comes days after the National Assembly passed the Constitution Alteration Bill providing for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture through decentralised policing.

The proposed amendment, which is awaiting approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before being transmitted to the President for assent, seeks to create state police commands alongside the Nigeria Police Force.

Although the legislation contains provisions intended to prevent abuse by state governments, Obi said the framework still leaves room for manipulation, particularly in the build-up to the next general election.

He noted that the campaign for state police had enjoyed widespread support over the years because of the limitations of Nigeria’s centralised policing system.

According to him, decentralised policing remains necessary for a country with Nigeria’s size, diversity and security challenges.

“The recent passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly marks a significant legislative milestone in addressing a long-standing demand of the Nigerian people,” he said.

Obi, however, argued that the legislative and constitutional framework for implementing the reform appeared weak and raised legitimate concerns about possible political misuse.

He advocated the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions insulated from the control of governors and other political office holders to ensure professionalism, accountability and operational independence.

The former Anambra State governor further expressed concern that the current administration could deploy state police to influence the outcome of the 2027 elections if the system is operational before then.

“Going by what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that this administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy,” he stated.

Obi therefore urged the Federal Government to suspend the implementation of the new policing structure until after the elections, saying such a move would strengthen public confidence in the reform and safeguard Nigeria’s democracy.

State police has remained one of the country’s most debated constitutional reforms for decades.

Supporters argue that devolving policing powers to the states will improve intelligence gathering, enhance community policing and enable quicker responses to security threats.

Opponents, however, fear that governors could weaponise state-controlled police against political opponents despite safeguards introduced by the National Assembly to curb interference and ensure independent oversight.