Peter Obi has slammed the National Assembly over how quickly it passed the State Police Bill. The NDC presidential candidate says the lawmakers skipped critical procedures in their rush to approve it.
Obi made his position clear on X on Wednesday. He acknowledged that state policing addresses a genuine need Nigerians have voiced for years.
Nigeria's size and complexity demand decentralized policing, he noted. A highly centralized system simply doesn't work for a nation of this scale.
But Obi said the way lawmakers handled the bill raises red flags. The Senate suspended its rules to fast-track consideration of the constitutional amendment bill.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele pushed the motion during Wednesday's plenary in Abuja. This allowed senators to skip standard procedures and move straight to voting.
According to Obi, that approach was deeply flawed. "The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganized," he stated.
No public hearing took place on such a sensitive matter. Communities weren't consulted about implementation at local government and grassroots levels.
Obi emphasized the rush fuels legitimate suspicion about lawmakers' true intentions. Many observers question what's really driving this sudden urgency.
His greatest worry isn't logistics or timing alone. History shows state police forces can easily become weapons in governors' hands.
Obi fears state-controlled officers might suppress political opponents. They could disrupt opposition rallies and manipulate elections, he warned.
For state policing to work, independent oversight is essential. Each state needs a Police Service Commission completely insulated from executive pressure.
Such bodies must serve the public interest, not ruling politicians. Without these safeguards, state police becomes a dangerous political tool.
Obi expressed deep concern about the current administration. He doubted whether officials can resist using state police to influence 2027 elections.
Given those risks to Nigeria's democracy, he called for delay. Implementation shouldn't begin until after the general elections conclude.
"A New Nigeria is Possible," Obi concluded his statement. His message reflected growing anxiety among opposition figures about the bill's true purpose.
