Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate for the 2027 election, Peter Obi, has cautioned against the immediate implementation of the proposed state police system, warning that it could be manipulated to influence the outcome of the next general election.
Obi made the remarks in a post on his X account on Friday, just days after the Senate passed a constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police services across the country.
The Senate approved the bill on June 24 as part of broader efforts by the Federal Government to decentralise policing and strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture.
Reacting to the development, Obi said the current political environment does not inspire confidence that the proposed state police structure would be insulated from political interference.
According to him, introducing state police ahead of the 2027 general election could create opportunities for abuse. “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,” Obi stated.
He argued that, given the potential implications for Nigeria’s democracy, implementation of the proposed law should be postponed until after the elections. “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 added.
The constitutional amendment, however, includes safeguards prohibiting state police from being used against political opponents, journalists, activists, or any individual solely for criticising the government.
Obi also criticised the process leading to the passage of the bill, saying the legislation was rushed without adequate public consultation.
While reaffirming his support for decentralised policing as a strategy to tackle insecurity, he maintained that reforms of such national importance should involve wider stakeholder engagement.
“The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels,” he said.
He further argued that the absence of public hearings and the speed with which the bill was considered had raised concerns among many Nigerians about the motivations behind the legislation.
“The rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” Obi added.
As part of his recommendations, Obi proposed the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions to oversee recruitment, discipline, and operations.
According to him, such institutions should be insulated from executive influence to ensure that state police operate professionally and serve the public rather than political office holders.
