The New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has cautioned the Federal Government and the National Assembly against hastily implementing the proposed state police system, warning that the reform could be vulnerable to political abuse without adequate constitutional safeguards.
The party said although it supports the decentralisation of policing as a means of addressing Nigeria’s security challenges, the timing of the proposed reform, with the 2027 general elections approaching, raises concerns about its potential misuse.
Speaking to The PUNCH on Friday, the NNPP’s Deputy National Chairman, Nweze Onu, said a constitutional reform of such significance should be guided by broad national consensus rather than political expediency.
According to Onu, the pace at which the legislation is being advanced has created the impression that key issues, including accountability, oversight, funding, operational independence and constitutional safeguards, have not received sufficient public scrutiny.
He warned that introducing state police close to a general election could create opportunities for state governments to intimidate political opponents, suppress dissent and influence the electoral process.
Onu said Nigeria’s experience has shown that security institutions lacking adequate independence and oversight could be manipulated for partisan purposes.
He also referred to existing regional security outfits, including Ebubeagu and Amotekun, noting that public debate and reported incidents involving the organisations have raised concerns about accountability, professionalism and alleged abuses.
Rather than proceeding immediately with a nationwide state police structure, Onu urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to first assess the performance of existing state-backed security outfits before expanding policing powers.
He said any state police framework should include clear constitutional guarantees to ensure operational independence, transparent recruitment, professional training, independent complaints mechanisms, judicial oversight and strict sanctions against political interference.
According to him, security reforms should strengthen, rather than undermine, the rights and freedoms of Nigerians.
“Nigeria deserves security institutions that protect every citizen equally, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion or social status. We must never permit any reform, however well-intentioned, to become a tool for political persecution,” he said.
The NNPP chieftain also called for broader national consultations and a more deliberate implementation process to ensure the proposed reform strengthens democratic institutions and public confidence.
The party’s position comes two days after the United Kingdom expressed support for Nigeria’s efforts to establish state police, describing the National Assembly’s security reform initiative as a significant step towards a more accountable, responsive and community-based policing system.
Similarly, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele have assured Nigerians that the proposed constitutional amendment contains safeguards designed to prevent abuse by state governors and other powerful interests.
The assurances were given during the National Security Roundtable held as part of the 2026 National Assembly Open Week in Abuja, where lawmakers, security chiefs, governors, ministers and development partners discussed security sector reforms and the proposed constitutional amendment.
The debate over the creation of state police has remained a contentious issue in Nigeria for more than two decades. Supporters argue that decentralised policing would improve intelligence gathering and enhance responses to local security threats, while critics fear it could be used by state governments to target political opponents.
The renewed push for state police followed President Bola Tinubu’s transmission of an executive bill to the National Assembly seeking constitutional amendments that would empower states to establish and operate their own police services.
