• PRP says Tinubu lacks credibility to drive policing reform
• Atiku camp alleges proposal being rushed for 2027 advantage
• Falana urges jobs, social welfare before policing overhaul
• Yoruba Ronu warns against hasty rollout, funding gaps
• Sanwo-Olu hails reform as victory for true federalism
• Labour Party cites constitutional safeguards against abuse
• Speakers promise public hearings, rigorous scrutiny
• Ashafa seeks clarity on command structure, funding formula

The Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill has triggered fresh opposition from political parties and stakeholders, with critics questioning the timing of the reform, the Federal Government’s credibility to implement it and the preparedness of states to sustain the proposed policing structure.

The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, and the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, yesterday voiced separate reservations over the proposal, warning that the initiative could deepen rather than resolve the country’s security challenges if implemented without adequate safeguards.

The PRP declared that it does not trust President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to oversee the creation of state police, warning that the proposed reform could be mismanaged under the current government.

In a statement yesterday, the party’s National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, acknowledged the need for comprehensive reforms of Nigeria’s security architecture but argued that the current administration lacks the credibility and public trust required to undertake such a fundamental restructuring.

According to the party, while Nigeria urgently needs improvements to its security system to tackle rising insecurity and restore public confidence, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration has not demonstrated the competence needed to implement state policing.

“The APC administration has failed to manage our security structure and institutions. Its plan to engineer the emergence of state police, is suspicious and it should be rejected,” the party said.

Although it acknowledged that the administration could secure the constitutional amendments required to establish state police, the PRP maintained that Nigerians should remain cautious.

It argued that the government lacks the moral authority to embark on such a major constitutional reform at a time when public confidence in state institutions remains low, adding that the next general election should first test the administration’s credibility.

“The forthcoming election should be a threshold which should be crossed with credibility and popular acclaim before the nation decides on important issues such as state police structures,” the statement added.

The party also urged the Federal Government to focus on addressing insecurity and protecting lives and property.

Similarly, the camp of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar faulted what it described as the hurried move to establish state police, alleging that the initiative was being driven by political considerations ahead of the 2027 general election.

The criticism came shortly after the Senate passed the State Police Bill as part of the ongoing constitutional amendment process.

Speaking during an interview on Arise News Channel’s Prime Time, Atiku’s media adviser, Paul Ibe, said although the former vice president and African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate supports state policing in principle, the timing of its implementation raises serious concerns.

“What Atiku Abubakar will not do in an election year is to ramp up legislation for state police because what they are trying to do is to sign this into law and give state governors that they have coerced into their party, the APC, the opportunity to recruit the thugs associated with them for the 2027 election,” Ibe said.

He stressed that the opposition was not against state police but questioned the urgency with which the proposal was being pursued.

“We support state police, but not at this time. This is political. Why don’t they focus on critical issues? Why don’t they boost security in vulnerable communities?” he asked, accusing the Federal Government of misplacing priorities amid worsening insecurity across the country.

Also weighing in, President of the Yoruba Ronu Leadership Forum, Akin Malaolu, warned against portraying state police as a cure-all for Nigeria’s security challenges.

While acknowledging the passage of the legislation, he argued that creating state police formations would not automatically address the structural weaknesses that have undermined policing at the federal level.

Malaolu said the Federal Government appeared to be shifting responsibility for security failures to state governments even though major crimes, including terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, remain largely under federal jurisdiction.

He also warned that overlapping responsibilities between federal and state security agencies could create operational conflicts and weaken law enforcement.

Identifying funding as another major concern, Malaolu noted that many states already face severe financial constraints and called for a review of the revenue-sharing formula to enable states and local governments to fund security operations effectively.

He questioned the speed with which the bill was passed, saying it should have been preceded by wider public consultations, fiscal impact assessments and clear agreements on funding, oversight and operational guidelines.

“Without addressing the structural weaknesses of the existing system, decentralising policing may simply multiply existing challenges,” he said.

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, said that creating state police alone will not resolve Nigeria’s security challenges unless governments address unemployment and other socio-economic problems.

Falana stated this yesterday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today while commenting on the recent passage of the State Police Bill by the Senate.

He said discussions on state policing should be viewed within the broader campaign for restructuring, stressing that security reforms must go beyond establishing additional police formations.

“I don’t think we should criminalise politicians, and I don’t want to engage in any conspiracy theory,” he said.

Falana questioned the emphasis on expanding policing without corresponding investments in social welfare and job creation.

“The debates have been on since we started the campaign for restructuring in the country and set out a new phenomenon.

“How do we have more police stations? How do we employ more policemen and women without considering social security? Why are we not talking about creating employment for young people? Why are we not assisting Nigerians who are vulnerable and extremely poor?

“And unless you address this problem holistically, creating a state police or local government police will not address the crisis of insecurity in the country,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu, Afenifere, Speakers, others back move
MEANWHILE, a section of the Nigerian public has sustained support for the proposed establishment of state police, describing it as a major step towards tackling insecurity and strengthening Nigeria’s federal structure.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu congratulated President Tinubu on the Senate’s approval of the bill, describing the development as “epochal” and a significant milestone in Nigeria’s democratic evolution.

In a statement personally signed by him, Sanwo-Olu said the President had demonstrated his commitment to true federalism by advancing a reform he had consistently championed since serving as governor of Lagos State.

He described the measure as a major boost in the fight against terrorism and other crimes, praising the Senate for “making history” and urging State Houses of Assembly to approve the amendment when it is transmitted to them.

Afenifere commended President Tinubu for forwarding the Executive Bill to the National Assembly and praised lawmakers for its speedy consideration.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, the pan-Yoruba organisation urged State Houses of Assembly to expedite passage of the amendment and called on governors to establish state police commands immediately after the legislation becomes law.

It also advised governors to recruit competent personnel, provide adequate training, equipment and technology, while ensuring attractive remuneration and life insurance cover for officers to guarantee the effectiveness of the new policing system.

For its part, the Labour Party described the Senate’s action as a bold and patriotic step towards addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges.

In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Ken Eluma Asogwa, the party commended the National Assembly, particularly the Senate, for the speed and commitment shown in passing the constitutional amendment bill transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The party said Nigerians across the six geopolitical zones had long demanded a more responsive policing structure capable of addressing the country’s increasingly complex security threats.

While acknowledging concerns over possible abuse of state police by governors, the Labour Party argued that the prevailing security situation made a compelling case for decentralised policing.

It expressed confidence that the constitutional safeguards contained in the proposed amendment, particularly provisions under Section 17, would ensure accountability and prevent misuse of state police structures.

According to the party, although no policing model is perfect, the limitations of Nigeria’s centralised policing system make reform imperative. It added that with effective oversight, transparency and strict adherence to constitutional provisions, state police could strengthen community security and deepen Nigeria’s federal system.

The Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria also backed the proposal, describing the Senate’s action as a major milestone in the constitutional amendment process.

In a statement signed by its Chairman and Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly, Emomotimi Dennis Guwor, the Conference said it had consistently supported state police, maintaining that community-based policing would improve intelligence gathering, crime prevention and rapid response.

The Speakers argued that policing should reflect local realities, noting that officers familiar with the language, culture and terrain of their communities are better positioned to combat insecurity.

They assured Nigerians that once the amendment reaches the State Houses of Assembly, it would undergo thorough scrutiny, including stakeholder engagements and public hearings where necessary, before lawmakers take a final position.

Similarly, former Senator Gbenga Ashafa applauded President Tinubu and the National Assembly for what he described as a courageous step towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.

Ashafa said the approval reflected the legislature’s responsiveness to the country’s evolving security challenges and expressed confidence that decentralised policing would improve security through greater local knowledge and intelligence.

However, he cautioned that critical issues relating to operational command, funding and jurisdiction must be resolved before implementation.

He urged lawmakers to clearly define the relationship between the Federal Police, State Police and other sub-national security outfits to avoid constitutional disputes and operational conflicts, while calling for a review of the revenue allocation formula to strengthen the financial capacity of states.

Ashafa also stressed the need for adequate welfare, remuneration and career progression for officers who may transition from the federal police structure, alongside strong oversight mechanisms to guarantee professionalism, accountability and public confidence.