Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called for the implementation of the recently passed State Police Bill to be deferred until after the 2027 general elections, citing concerns over possible political abuse and inadequate legislative scrutiny.
In a statement made available to The News Chronicle, Obi described the passage of the bill by the National Assembly as a significant legislative milestone that responds to a long-standing demand by Nigerians for a more effective policing structure.
He noted that security experts, regional stakeholders and many Nigerians had consistently argued that the country’s highly centralised policing system was ill-suited to Nigeria’s size, diversity and complexity.
However, Obi expressed reservations about the process leading to the bill’s passage, arguing that the legislation lacked sufficient public participation and transparency.
According to him, a reform of such national importance should have been subjected to extensive public hearings and wider consultations, particularly at the community level where its impact would be most directly felt.
“The rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” he said.
Obi maintained that the greatest concern surrounding state police was not operational or logistical, but the possibility of political misuse.
He warned that without adequate safeguards, state police forces could become instruments in the hands of state governors to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent and influence electoral outcomes.
To prevent such abuse, Obi called for the establishment of independent oversight institutions, including state Police Service Commissions insulated from executive control.
He argued that such bodies would ensure that state police operate in the public interest rather than serving the political interests of those in power.
Obi further expressed concern that the current administration could exploit state policing to influence the outcome of the 2027 general elections through proxy control.
“Given the potential threat this poses to Nigeria’s democracy and the integrity of the electoral process, the implementation of the State Police law should be postponed until after the 2027 general election,” he said.
