State Police: ‘Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns Of Political Misuse’ – Peter Obi

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has commended the passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly but expressed concern about a disorderly legislative process and the potential for political abuse.

Naija News reports that Peter Obi, in a statement via his social media page on Friday, titled ‘State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse’, asserted that Nigerians had long advocated the decentralisation of policing.

Peter Obi pointed out that the speed at which the legislation was enacted, without wider consultation, had fuelled suspicions about the political motives behind the move.

According to the former Governor of Anambra State, the major concern surrounding state police was not logistics but the possibility of political manipulation by state governors.

Peter Obi also argued that for state policing to evolve from a risky political gamble into a genuine security solution, “The law must not only permit states to establish police forces but also clearly provide for independent oversight bodies, such as a state-level Police Service Commission that is entirely free from executive influence, to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite.”

He further expressed concerns that the current administration will not exploit the new policing bill ahead of the 2027 general election.

The statement read, “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. For years, many of us, alongside security experts and regional stakeholders, have consistently argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria. However, the legislative and constitutional implementation appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns.

The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels. The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, with no public hearing on such a sensitive issue. Indeed, the rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it.

The greatest concern does not arise from logistical issues; it stems from history. There is a widespread, justifiable fear that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors. The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections.

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. In view of that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election.