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Peter Obi has asked the federal government to suspend state police implementation until after the 2027 general election. The former Anambra governor and Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate made the call in a post on X on Friday.
The Gist
- Peter Obi wants state police paused until after 2027
- He fears the system could be politically misused
- Call made in a Friday post on X
He argued that creating new police forces in the heat of an election cycle carries serious risks. His concern is timing, not the principle of decentralised policing itself.
Why Obi wants a delay
Obi warned that state police could be turned into a political weapon if rolled out before the vote. He said forces controlled at the state level might be used to harass opponents, disrupt rallies and tilt the playing field.
The timing of the legislation deepened his unease. He said the bill moved through the National Assembly quickly and without a public hearing, which he believes fuels suspicion about the motives behind it.
“Hasty passage of the bill raises suspicion,” he said, calling for caution before the structure is activated.
What the state police bill does
On 11 June, the House of Representatives approved a constitutional amendment to establish state police across the federation. The Senate passed its version days later, renaming the structure a Federal and State Police Service.
Under the proposed framework, governors would gain powers to appoint state police commissioners and issue directives. The bill still needs approval from a majority of state assemblies before it can become law.
Supporters say state police would bring officers closer to local communities and help confront banditry, kidnapping and rural violence that federal forces have struggled to contain.
A long-running debate
The idea of state police has divided Nigerian opinion for years. Many governors back it, arguing that a single, centrally controlled force cannot police a country of more than 200 million people.
Critics share Obi’s worry. They fear state forces could be abused by powerful governors, especially without strong oversight and clear funding rules.
Obi positioned himself between the two camps. He has previously supported reforming Nigeria’s security architecture, but insists the rollout must not coincide with a charged election season.
Mixed reactions
Obi’s intervention drew a swift response online. Supporters praised him for raising the alarm, while critics accused him of politicising a reform meant to improve safety.
Some security analysts share his caution on timing. They argue that new command structures take time to staff, fund and train, and that rushing them before a vote invites confusion.
Others counter that delaying the rollout would prolong the very insecurity the reform is meant to address. For them, waiting until after 2027 means another two years of stretched federal policing.
Why it matters
Security is shaping up as a central issue heading into 2027. With kidnappings and rural attacks still frequent, how Nigeria reorganises its police could affect millions of lives.
Obi’s intervention adds to pressure on lawmakers and the presidency to slow down and build consensus. Whether the state assemblies heed the caution, or push ahead, will shape the next phase of the reform.
For now, the bill sits with the states. Its fate, and the timing Obi is fighting over, remains unsettled.
Source: Peter Obi
