The Labour Party senatorial candidate for Anambra Central, Ven. Tochukwu Ikezue, has expressed support for the creation of state police in Nigeria but urged the authorities to delay its implementation until after the 2027 general elections to prevent possible political abuse.
The push for state police in Nigeria has crossed its major constitutional requirement after 24 out of 36 State Houses of Assembly approved the Constitution (Sixth Alteration) Bill, 2026.
The Chairman of the Presidential Working Group on State Police and Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, had revealed that the 24 state approvals meet the two-thirds majority requirement mandated by Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
Gbajabiamila also announced that the Presidential Working Group had completed drafting the National Policing Bill (2026) alongside 29 consequential amendment bills, submitting them to the Federal Ministry of Justice for validation review by October 30, 2026.
Ikezue, who spoke to journalists in Awka at the weekend, described state police as a long-overdue reform that could strengthen grassroots security and promote true federalism, particularly amid rising insecurity, kidnapping, banditry and communal clashes.
However, he warned that introducing the new policing structure shortly before the 2027 elections could give some state governors an opportunity to use it against political opponents, opposition candidates and dissenting voices.
According to him, delaying its implementation would allow adequate time for public sensitisation, legislative work and the establishment of safeguards to prevent abuse of power.
He said some states needed a better understanding of the operational framework and financial implications of state police before its introduction, stressing that proper planning was necessary to ensure effective and accountable policing.
“What we need now is a level playing field for all political parties and candidates in 2027. We cannot introduce a security architecture that will become a political tool in the hands of desperate incumbents,” he said.
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The Labour Party candidate maintained that, although state police could improve security at the grassroots, its implementation during the pre-election period could create opportunities for intimidation, harassment and interference with the electoral process.
He therefore called on the National Assembly to continue with the constitutional amendment process required to establish state police but fix its effective take-off date for after May 29, 2027, following the general elections.
Ikezue said the proposed delay would enable the relevant authorities to put appropriate legal and institutional safeguards in place before the new policing system becomes operational.
He added that state police should ultimately serve the security needs of Nigerians rather than the political interests of those in power.
