State Police Bill Sparks Fresh Debate as Obi, CUPP Warn Against Hasty Implementation

The passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly has ignited fresh debate across Nigeria, with former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) raising concerns over the manner in which the landmark legislation was approved.

In a statement posted on his X account on Friday, Obi described the bill as a significant step toward addressing Nigeria’s long-standing security challenges but warned that flaws in the legislative process could undermine public trust and open the door to political manipulation.

According to him, decentralising policing has been widely advocated by security experts and regional stakeholders as a practical response to the country’s worsening insecurity. However, he argued that the constitutional and legislative framework surrounding the reform remains weak and lacks the transparency needed to inspire confidence.

“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,” Obi stated.

He noted that Nigeria’s highly centralised policing structure has proven inadequate for a nation as large and diverse as Nigeria, but stressed that the implementation process must be credible and inclusive.

Obi faulted the absence of extensive public consultations and hearings before the bill’s passage, describing the process as disorganised and capable of fuelling suspicion about the true motives behind the reform.

He maintained that a far-reaching security policy such as state policing should be driven by community participation and greater engagement with stakeholders at both local government and grassroots levels.

“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,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor also expressed concern over the potential misuse of state police structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that there are no clear guarantees that the current administration would refrain from exploiting the new policing arrangement for political advantage.

“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 said, calling for the implementation of the law to be postponed until after the elections.

Similarly, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) acknowledged the passage of the constitutional amendment bill as a historic shift in Nigeria’s security architecture but cautioned against rushing its implementation.

In a statement signed by its National Chairman, Peter Ameh, the coalition said the reform reflects growing recognition of the limitations of the centralised policing system amid rising cases of banditry, kidnapping, insurgency, communal violence, and urban crime.

Ameh noted that the Nigeria Police Force has remained overstretched and under-resourced despite repeated promises by the Federal Government to recruit more personnel and strengthen security funding mechanisms.

According to him, the inability to adequately expand and equip the police force has exposed the shortcomings of relying solely on a centrally controlled security system.

While endorsing the principle behind state policing, the CUPP warned that inadequate safeguards could make the new system vulnerable to abuse.

“State Police could be susceptible to political weaponisation, election interference, and the suppression of opposition if not properly structured and regulated,” Ameh cautioned.

He also highlighted concerns over funding disparities among states, uneven professional standards, and possible coordination challenges between federal and state security commands.

As debate intensifies over the future of state policing in Nigeria, stakeholders continue to weigh its potential to strengthen security against fears that weak implementation could create new political and operational challenges.