Peter Obi and ADC Challenge Rushed State Police Bill

Presidential candidate Peter Obi and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) have criticized the Nigerian government's hurried passage of the State Police Bill. Following a Senate plenary in Abuja where rules were suspended to accelerate the bill's consideration, Obi called for the implementation of the law to be deferred until after the 2027 general elections.

Obi argued that while decentralized policing is a commendable step for national security, the current legislative process was disorganized and lacked public hearings. He warned that without independent oversight bodies, such as state-level Police Service Commissions, governors could weaponize these forces to suppress political rivals and manipulate election results. Obi expressed doubt that the current administration could resist using the new structure to influence the 2027 vote by proxy.

Similarly, the ADC described the push for constitutional amendments as a panicky attempt by President Bola Tinubu's administration to mask failures in combating terrorism and kidnapping. Although the party supports state policing in principle, it characterized the move as political theatre rather than a planned structural reform, asserting that the initiative lacks the institutional safeguards necessary to prevent professional abuse and political intimidation.