Obi hails passage of State Police Bill… but wants it to take off after 2027 elections

By our reporter 26.62027
Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate, Peter Obi has welcomed the passage of the State Police bill by the Nigerian Senate, but according to him States should create their own policing after the 2027 general elections.
Obi said in a statement Friday that the State Police Bill was a step in the right direction for the country but warned against politicians abusing the previlege. .
“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 said.
“For years, many of us, alongside security experts and regional stakeholders, have consistently argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria.”
Obi submitted there ought to have been a broader consultation and public participation in such a sensitive constitutional amendment.
“The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels. The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, with no public hearing on such a sensitive issue,” he said.
“Indeed, the rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it.
“The greatest concern does not arise from logistical issues; it stems from history. 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.”
“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,” he said.