Peter Obi Backs State Police, Warns Against Using it For 2027 Election

The 2027 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, has welcomed the National Assembly’s passage of the State Police Bill but warned that its implementation could become a political tool if adequate safeguards are not put in place.

Obi made his position known on Friday in a statement posted on his social media pages titled, “State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse.”

The former Anambra State governor acknowledged that the creation of state police has been a long-standing demand by many Nigerians, security experts and regional stakeholders who believe the country’s centralised policing system is no longer effective in tackling modern security challenges.

While commending lawmakers for moving the bill forward, Obi questioned the manner in which the legislation was passed.

According to him, the speed of the process and the absence of broad public consultations have raised legitimate concerns about the intentions behind the law.

He argued that a constitutional amendment of such national importance should have gone through extensive public hearings and wider community participation before its passage.

“The process should involve greater community participation. Policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels,” Obi stated.

He added that rushing the legislation without following what he described as proper legislative procedures had fuelled public suspicion over possible political motives.

‘Governors Must Not Control State Police’
Obi said the biggest challenge facing the proposed state police system is not funding or logistics but the possibility of political interference.

According to him, many Nigerians fear that governors could deploy state police against political opponents, suppress opposition activities and influence elections if the force is not insulated from executive control.

To prevent such abuse, Obi called for the establishment of independent oversight institutions, including state-level Police Service Commissions that would operate free from the influence of governors.

He maintained that such safeguards are necessary to ensure that state police serve the interests of citizens rather than those of political office holders.

Obi also expressed concerns that the current administration could exploit the new policing framework ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He argued that given existing political tensions and widespread public distrust, implementing state police before the elections could undermine confidence in the democratic process.

According to him, postponing the implementation until after the 2027 polls would help reduce fears of political manipulation while allowing time to strengthen legal safeguards against abuse.

The former governor insisted that although decentralised policing remains a necessary reform, its success depends on transparency, accountability and institutional independence rather than political expediency.