Former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi has called for the implementation of state police to be postponed until after the 2027 general elections, warning that the new security structure could be exploited for political purposes if introduced without adequate safeguards.
Obi’s position comes days after the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.
In a statement issued on Friday, the former Anambra State governor described the passage of the bill as a major step towards addressing the country’s security concerns, noting that many Nigerians and security experts have long advocated decentralised policing as a more effective alternative to the current centralised system.
Despite supporting the concept, Obi criticised the process leading to the bill’s passage, arguing that such a far-reaching constitutional amendment should have involved wider public consultation and stakeholder engagement.
He expressed concern that the legislation was rushed through without sufficient public hearings, raising questions about the motives behind its speedy consideration.
Obi also warned that state police could become a political tool in the hands of governors, who might deploy the force to intimidate opposition figures, disrupt political gatherings, and influence election outcomes.
To prevent such abuse, he called for the establishment of independent state Police Service Commissions insulated from the control of state executives, ensuring professionalism and accountability within the proposed policing system.
He further argued that postponing the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general elections would help eliminate fears that the security outfit could be used to influence the electoral process.
According to Obi, delaying the rollout would strengthen public confidence in the reform and allow adequate safeguards to be put in place before the system becomes operational.
