The Presidential Candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has endorsed the creation of State Police as a necessary component of Nigeria’s security reform agenda but has cautioned against its implementation before the conclusion of the 2027 general elections.
Reacting to the recent passage of the State Police Bill by the Senate, Obi described the development as a historic and potentially transformative step toward addressing the growing inadequacies of Nigeria’s highly centralised policing structure.
According to him, the increasing complexity of security threats across the federation—including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, violent crime and communal conflicts—has made the case for decentralised policing stronger than ever before.
Obi noted that for many years, security experts, civil society organisations, regional leaders and concerned Nigerians have consistently argued that effective policing must be rooted in local knowledge, community participation and rapid response capabilities that a centralised command structure often struggles to provide.
While welcoming the legislative breakthrough, Obi expressed concern that the process leading to the bill’s passage lacked the broad-based consultations and national consensus required for a constitutional reform of such far-reaching consequences.
He argued that legislation affecting the structure, control and deployment of armed law enforcement institutions should command the confidence of the Nigerian people through extensive public engagement and transparent deliberations.
Beyond procedural concerns, Obi said the more fundamental issue relates to public trust.
According to him, many Nigerians remain apprehensive that state-controlled police formations could be subjected to political influence and deployed in ways that undermine democratic competition and civil liberties.
He observed that the nation’s political history has created legitimate fears that security institutions may be exploited by powerful political actors to intimidate opponents, suppress dissent, frustrate opposition activities or distort electoral outcomes.
“Whether such fears are justified or not, they exist within the public consciousness and cannot simply be ignored. Any reform that affects policing must enjoy broad public confidence and contain safeguards strong enough to prevent abuse,” he stated.
Obi stressed that the success of State Police will depend not merely on constitutional approval but on the establishment of independent oversight structures capable of guaranteeing professionalism, accountability and operational autonomy.
He called for the creation of constitutionally protected State Police Service Commissions and other institutional mechanisms insulated from executive interference to ensure that policing serves the interests of citizens rather than the interests of those in power.
The former Anambra State governor warned that introducing State Police in the immediate build-up to the 2027 elections could generate avoidable controversy and deepen political suspicion at a time when national unity and confidence in democratic institutions are essential.
He maintained that even a well-intentioned reform could become a source of tension if implemented in a manner that creates perceptions of partisan advantage.
For this reason, Obi proposed that while all legislative and constitutional processes relating to State Police should continue, the operational implementation of the policy should be deferred until after the 2027 general elections.
Such an approach, he argued, would provide sufficient time to design robust safeguards, establish independent oversight mechanisms, train personnel, define operational standards and build the public confidence necessary for the long-term success of the reform.
Obi reiterated that Nigeria’s security challenges require bold and innovative solutions, but insisted that reforms must strengthen democracy rather than create opportunities for political abuse.
“The objective is not simply to create new policing institutions. The objective is to build a security architecture that protects lives, defends constitutional freedoms and commands the trust of all Nigerians irrespective of political affiliation,” he said.
He reaffirmed his commitment to genuine security sector reforms anchored on transparency, accountability, the rule of law and democratic values, stressing that sustainable peace and national security can only be achieved when citizens have confidence in both the intentions and the institutions of government.