Senate Replies Obi, Says State Police Bill Is About Security, Not Politics

The Senate has defended its passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Alteration State Police Bill 2026, dismissing criticism from opposition figures and insisting that national security must take precedence over political considerations.

The response follows calls by the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, for the implementation of state police to be postponed until after the 2027 general election.

Obi had argued that introducing state police before the polls could expose the proposed security structure to political manipulation if adequate safeguards were not in place.

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) also opposed the move, with its National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, saying the current administration lacked the credibility to implement state police, describing it as "the worst possible time" for the reform.

Responding in a statement on Sunday, Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the proposed legislation was born out of the country's worsening security challenges rather than political expediency.

"The State Police Bill is purely a child of necessity and not of political expediency. It is a product of national consensus and not of cynicism," Bamidele said.

According to him, the proposal did not emerge suddenly but was one of the memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

He said lawmakers embarked on extensive consultations because of the sensitivity of the issue.

Bamidele disclosed that the National Assembly engaged the Presidency, the Nigeria Governors Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force and other critical stakeholders before the bill was passed.

He added that public hearings were also held across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones in July 2025.

"At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of the stark realities we are facing today," he said.

The Senate leader noted that recommendations from the Nigeria Police helped lawmakers strengthen accountability and oversight provisions designed to prevent governors or political office holders from abusing state police structures.

"The resolve of the Nigeria Police to support the Bill obviously highlights its strategic national significance to deal with insecurity at local and state levels," he added.

Bamidele also rejected suggestions that the legislation was driven solely by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), saying lawmakers across party lines supported the amendment.

According to him, 84 of the Senate's 109 members voted in favour of the bill during clause-by-clause consideration, representing about 77 per cent of the chamber.

He added that senators from opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and Labour Party, also voted in support of the legislation.

The Senate leader argued that security issues should not become subjects of partisan political disputes.

"National security should transcend partisanship," he said, urging opposition parties to contribute constructive ideas that would strengthen the country's security architecture instead of opposing reforms.

The proposed constitutional amendment seeks to establish state police as part of broader efforts to address rising insecurity across the country. However, the bill must still complete the constitutional amendment process before becoming law.