Former Labour Party presidential candidate and 2027 Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential hopeful, Peter Obi, has called for the implementation of the proposed state police system to be postponed until after the 2027 general elections.
Obi said while he supports the creation of state police in principle, the process should not move forward without stronger safeguards to prevent political abuse.
Reacting to the recent passage of the State Police Bill by the Senate, the former Anambra State governor described the development as an important step toward improving Nigeria’s security architecture. However, he warned that the implementation process raises serious concerns.
According to Obi, Nigeria’s current centralized policing system has long struggled to effectively address the country’s growing security challenges, making state policing a necessary reform. Despite this, he argued that the process must be transparent, inclusive and backed by adequate legal protections.
He also criticised what he described as the absence of broad public consultations before the bill was passed, saying a reform of such national importance should involve greater community participation.
Obi further expressed concern that state police could be misused by state governments to intimidate political opponents and influence elections if proper oversight mechanisms are not put in place.
He proposed the establishment of independent state Police Service Commissions that would operate free from executive interference to ensure professionalism and accountability.
The former presidential candidate said implementing the new policing structure before the 2027 elections could create public distrust, urging the government to delay its rollout until after the polls.
Obi maintained that postponing implementation would allow sufficient time to strengthen the legal framework and build public confidence in the proposed security reform.
Source: Peter Obi (via X)
