ADC Criticizes Government’s “Rushed” Approach to State Police Legislation

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed reservations regarding the federal government’s current push for state police, arguing that the proposed legislation is a hasty attempt to address the nation’s security crisis rather than a well-considered constitutional reform.

In an official statement released on Friday by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party affirmed its long-standing support for decentralized policing. However, the ADC contended that state-level forces cannot be treated as a “silver bullet” for immediate security challenges like terrorism and kidnapping, warning that such structural reforms require time and extensive institutional planning.

The party criticized the government for presenting the proposal as a bold, new initiative, noting that decentralization has been a part of Nigeria’s constitutional discourse for decades. According to the ADC, the current speed at which the National Assembly is processing the legislation lacks the necessary public consultation and stakeholder engagement required for a fundamental shift in the country’s security architecture.

“What we are seeing is a government in desperate haste to amend the Constitution in order to create the impression that it is doing something about the country’s worsening insecurity,” the statement read.

Beyond concerns about the timeline, the ADC raised questions regarding the lack of safeguards against political interference. The party emphasized the need for clear regulations governing recruitment, funding, and discipline to ensure that local police forces do not become instruments of intimidation. They also cautioned that state police should not be viewed as a replacement for comprehensive reform of the federal Nigeria Police Force, which they argue must remain central to intelligence coordination and counterterrorism.

The ADC concluded by stating that while it supports measures to improve national security, it remains opposed to what it termed “political theatre” that prioritizes rapid legislative action over the substantive, long-term work of building accountable and effective security institutions.