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.
Obi warned that introducing state police before the next election could expose the new security system to political manipulation and abuse by those in power.
His comments come just days after the National Assembly passed the Constitution Alteration Bill, which seeks to establish state police as part of efforts to decentralise Nigeria's policing system and improve security across the country.
The proposed amendment, which still requires approval from at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before receiving presidential assent, provides for the creation of state police commands alongside the Nigeria Police Force. It also includes safeguards aimed at preventing governors from using state police against political opponents.
Despite supporting the idea of decentralised policing, Obi expressed concerns about the way the bill is being implemented. According to him, the current process lacks adequate transparency and could create opportunities for political misuse, especially with the 2027 general election approaching.
The former Anambra State governor made his position known in a statement posted on his X account, titled "State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse."
In the statement, Obi described the passage of the State Police Bill as an important legislative achievement and acknowledged that many Nigerians, security experts, and regional stakeholders have long advocated for decentralised policing.
According to him, Nigeria's highly centralised policing system is no longer suitable for a country as large, diverse, and complex as Nigeria. However, he argued that while the idea of state police is commendable, the legislative and constitutional implementation process appears weak and raises legitimate concerns about possible political abuse if introduced before the 2027 elections.
Obi therefore urged the Federal Government to delay the implementation of the new policing structure until after the general election to ensure that it is introduced in a transparent, fair, and non-partisan manner.
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