The 2027 presidential candidate for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has reacted to the passage of the State Police Establishment Bill by the Nigerian Senate.
Obi, in a statement issued on Friday, June 26, 2026, welcomed the passage of the bill by the Red Chamber.
Describing this move by the legislature as a potential step toward addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, the former Anambra governor raised strong concerns about the rushed process and risks of political abuse.
He also noted that the bill is a “significant legislative milestone” that responds to long-standing demands from Nigerians, security experts, and regional stakeholders.
He explained that a centralised policing system has proven unsuitable for a country as large and diverse as Nigeria.
Obi, however, expressed reservations about the quality of the legislative process.
He said, “The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, with no public hearing on such a sensitive issue.
“The rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” Obi said.
He also highlighted the absence of adequate community participation and insufficient visibility of policing at the local government and community levels.
Obi’s criticism centred on potential misuse by state governors, citing fears that state police could be turned into instruments of oppression.
“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… to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” he noted.
To prevent these risks, Obi called for robust safeguards, including establishing independent state-level Police Service Commissions completely insulated from executive control. Such bodies, he argued, would ensure policing serves public interest rather than the ruling elite.
Also citing the proximity of the 2027 general elections, Obi urged the deferral of the law’s implementation.
“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,” he advised.
