State police should take effect after 2027 elections – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged that the implementation of state police be postponed until after the 2027 general election, warning that the new security structure could be misused for political purposes.

Obi made the call on Friday, two days after the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police across Nigeria.

He described the passage of the bill as a major step toward tackling the country’s security challenges, noting that many Nigerians had long advocated decentralising policing due to the nation’s size, diversity and complex security realities.

However, the former Anambra State governor criticised the process leading to the bill’s passage, saying such a sensitive constitutional amendment required wider public consultation and legislative scrutiny. According to him, the absence of public hearings has raised concerns about the motives behind the legislation.

Obi also expressed fears that state police could be exploited by governors to intimidate political opponents, disrupt opposition activities and influence elections if adequate safeguards are not put in place.

To address these concerns, he called for the establishment of independent state Police Service Commissions insulated from executive control to oversee the operations of state police.

He maintained that delaying the implementation until after the 2027 elections would help eliminate any perception that the new policing system could be used to influence the electoral process.