Postpone state police establishment until after the 2027 elections, Obi advises Tinubu

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, has called on President Bola Tinubu to delay the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election, citing concerns that the new policing structure could be manipulated for political gain if introduced before the polls.

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This warning comes just days after the National Assembly passed the Constitution Alteration Bill, which seeks to establish state police and decentralise Nigeria's policing system in response to the country's growing insecurity.

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The proposed constitutional amendment, which requires approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before presidential assent, would create state police commands alongside the Nigeria Police Force and include safeguards to prevent governors from abusing the new security architecture.

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Despite the potential benefits of decentralised policing, Obi has expressed concerns that the current implementation process lacks transparency and may be vulnerable to political abuse, particularly with the 2027 general election approaching.

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In a statement titled "State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse" on his X handle, Obi argued that the legislative and constitutional implementation of state police appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns.

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Obi stated that 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, but noted that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country like Nigeria.

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To prevent abuse, Obi called for strong independent oversight, including state Police Service Commissions that are insulated from executive control, saying such safeguards are essential to ensure state police serve the public interest instead of becoming tools of the political elite.

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Obi urged the Federal Government to postpone the implementation of state policing until after the general election, citing concerns that the current administration may exploit state police to influence the 2027 general election.

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He noted that there is no guarantee that the administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy, and therefore it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election.

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The debate over state police has been one of Nigeria's most contentious constitutional reform issues, with supporters arguing that decentralising policing will improve intelligence gathering, community policing, and rapid response to insecurity.

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Critics, on the other hand, fear that governors could exploit state-controlled police for partisan purposes, and although the Senate has incorporated provisions to limit abuse, the proposal continues to generate debate among political parties, civil society groups, and security experts over its timing and implementation.