Defer implementation of State Police until after 2027 election — Peter Obi tells Tinubu

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to postpone the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election, citing fears that the new security structure could be abused for political purposes.

In a lengthy statement released on Friday, Obi described the passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly as a significant step towards addressing Nigeria’s long-standing security challenges.

However, he warned that the process leading to its enactment was flawed and lacked adequate public participation.

Concerns over legislative process

According to Obi, Nigeria’s highly centralised policing system is unsuitable for a country of its size and diversity, and the creation of state police has long been advocated by security experts and regional stakeholders.

Despite welcoming the idea, he argued that the implementation framework appears “shaky” and raises concerns over possible political misuse.

“The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels,” Obi said.

He further criticised the manner in which the legislation was passed, claiming there was no public hearing on such a sensitive matter.

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

Fear of political manipulation

The former Anambra governor said the biggest concern surrounding state police is the possibility that governors could use the security outfit to intimidate political opponents, disrupt opposition activities and manipulate elections.

According to him, the proposed law should include independent oversight institutions, such as state-level Police Service Commissions that are free from executive influence.

Obi also expressed doubts about the current administration’s ability to resist the temptation of using state policing arrangements to influence the 2027 general 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,” he stated.

Call for postponement

Based on these concerns, Obi urged President Tinubu and relevant authorities to defer the implementation of state police until after the 2027 elections to avoid undermining public confidence in the electoral process and the country’s democracy.

He concluded his statement with his trademark slogan: “A New Nigeria is POssible.”