Why State Police Should Be Delayed – Peter Obi
The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has urged the Federal Government to delay the implementation of the newly approved State Police Bill until after the 2027 general election.
He made the appeal on Friday, saying stronger safeguards were needed before the new policing system takes effect.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Obi described the passage of the bill as an important step but argued that the process was flawed.
He said there was not enough public consultation and warned that the speed of its passage had raised concerns about possible political interests.
Obi maintained that Nigeria needs state police because the current centralised system is no longer suitable for a country of its size and diversity.
However, he warned that governors could misuse the new police structure to intimidate political opponents and interfere with elections if proper checks are not established.
He called for independent state police oversight bodies that would operate without political control.
Obi added that, given current concerns, delaying implementation until after the 2027 elections would help protect the credibility of the electoral process while allowing time to strengthen the legal framework.
