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The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to postpone the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general election, warning that introducing the new policing system before the polls could expose it to political abuse.
Obi made the call on Friday, days after the National Assembly passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police as part of efforts to decentralise Nigeria’s policing system in response to growing insecurity.
In a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Obi described the passage of the bill as a significant legislative milestone but expressed concern over the manner in which it was being implemented.
State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse
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. For years,…
— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 26, 2026
He argued that while decentralised policing has long been advocated by security experts and stakeholders, the current legislative process raises questions about transparency and the potential for political misuse.
“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.
“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. However, the legislative and constitutional implementation appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns,” Obi said.
The former Anambra State governor said there was no certainty that the current administration would resist the temptation to use state police to influence the 2027 elections. He therefore recommended delaying its implementation until after the polls to protect the integrity of the electoral process.
“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. A New Nigeria is Possible,” he said.
Obi also called for strong independent oversight, including state Police Service Commissions insulated from executive control, saying such oversight mechanisms were necessary to ensure state police served the public rather than political interests.
The proposed constitutional amendment provides for state police commands to operate alongside the Nigeria Police Force and includes provisions intended to prevent governors from using the new security structure against political opponents.
State police remain one of Nigeria’s most debated constitutional reforms, with supporters arguing it would strengthen community policing and improve responses to insecurity, while critics fear it could be exploited for partisan purposes despite safeguards included in the legislation.
