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Obi Backs State Police, Warns Against Political Abuse, Seeks Delay Until After 2027 Polls
Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi has thrown his weight behind the creation of state police, but warned that the newly passed State Police Bill risks political abuse without stronger constitutional safeguards, calling for its implementation to be deferred until after the 2027 general elections.
In a statement on Friday, Obi described the National Assembly’s passage of the bill as a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s long-standing security challenges, noting that decentralised policing has long been advocated by security experts and regional stakeholders.
However, he faulted the legislative process, arguing that the bill was passed without sufficient public consultation or transparent legislative procedures.
According to him, the absence of public hearings on such a sensitive national issue has raised concerns over the motivations behind the legislation.
Obi said the major challenge with state policing is not operational logistics but the potential for political manipulation. He warned that state police could become instruments in the hands of governors to intimidate political opponents, disrupt opposition activities and influence electoral outcomes.
To prevent such abuse, he called for the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions insulated from executive interference, insisting that oversight mechanisms must guarantee professionalism, accountability and public trust.
The former Anambra State governor further expressed concern that the current administration could exploit state policing to influence the 2027 general elections through state governments. He therefore urged that implementation of the law be deferred until after the polls to preserve public confidence in the electoral process.
Obi maintained that while state police remains a necessary reform for Nigeria’s security architecture, its implementation must be guided by transparency, broad stakeholder engagement and strong institutional safeguards to ensure it serves the interests of the people rather than partisan political interests.
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