Postpone State Police Until After 2027 Election – Peter Obi Tells Tinubu
LAGOS, NIGERIA — The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to shelve the implementation of the newly proposed state police structure until after the 2027 general election.
Obi warned that introducing a decentralized security architecture ahead of the highly anticipated polls could expose it to massive political manipulation and abuse by the ruling class.
The former Anambra State governor made his position known in an official statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, titled, “State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse.”
State Police Bill: A Major Milestone with Rushed Timelines
Obi’s warning comes just days after the National Assembly passed the monumental Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police. The landmark reform aims to decentralize Nigeria’s security apparatus in response to surging nationwide insecurity.
While the proposed constitutional amendment provides for the creation of state police commands alongside the Nigeria Police Force, it must still win approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before receiving presidential assent.
While acknowledging that a centralized policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast and diverse as Nigeria, Obi raised concerns over the rushed nature of the law.
"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," Obi stated. "However, the legislative and constitutional implementation appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns."
Fear of 2027 Election Manipulation 'By Proxy'
Despite structural safeguards embedded in the bill to prevent state governors from abusing the new system against political opponents, Obi remains skeptical about the current federal administration's intentions.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer argued that the lack of public hearings and community input makes the legislative framework highly disorganized. He explicitly cautioned that the state police system could be weaponized to influence the upcoming January 2027 polls.
Key Takeaways from Peter Obi’s Statement:
The Trust Deficit: Obi emphasized that there is no guarantee the Tinubu administration will resist the temptation to leverage state policing to influence the 2027 polls by proxy.
Call for Postponement: To protect the integrity of Nigeria's democracy, he insists the implementation must be deferred until after the general elections are concluded.
Local Participation Missing: The NDC candidate advocated for greater grassroots and local government visibility rather than a rushed top-down state model.
As the debate intensifies, regional stakeholders and political analysts are closely watching the 24 state Houses of Assembly to see how quickly the constitutional amendment progresses ahead of the 2027 political cycle.
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