Peter Obi Calls for Delay on State Police Bill Implementation

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged the federal government to put a hold on the State Police Bill until after the 2027 general election.

Mr Obi, who used to be the governor of Anambra State, shared this message in a post on X on Friday.

On June 11, the House of Representatives approved a bill to create state police across Nigeria. The Senate also passed the bill on Wednesday.

But Obi is worried that if the bill is put into effect, President Bola Tinubu's government might use state police against opposition politicians in the upcoming 2027 election.

“Going by what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that this administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy.

“In view of that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election,” he said.

Obi noted that the bill's passage by the National Assembly is “a significant legislative milestone in addressing” the security issues in Nigeria. However, he thinks the fast-tracked approval raises suspicion.

He pointed out that while the current central policing system does not fit Nigeria's needs, how the State Police Bill is being pushed through raises serious concerns.

Obi also mentioned that the bill passed without a public hearing. He believes policing should be more visible in local communities.

“Indeed, the rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” he stated.

The biggest worry for Obi regarding the State Police Bill is that state governors might take control of it.

“There is a widespread, justifiable fear that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors.

“The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” he said.

Obi added, “For state policing to evolve from a risky political gamble into a genuine security solution, the law must not only permit states to establish police forces but also clearly provide for independent oversight bodies, such as a state-level Police Service Commission that is entirely free from executive influence, to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite.”