The African Democratic Congress and the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, have backed the establishment of state police but cautioned President Bola Tinubu against what they described as a hasty implementation of the proposed security reform.
They warned that rushing the implementation could be abused for political purposes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
While the ADC accused the Federal Government of rushing through a constitutional amendment, Obi urged Tinubu to defer the implementation of state police until after the 2027 polls to prevent its possible use for electoral manipulation.
The opposition party and the former Anambra State governor spoke on Friday, three days after the National Assembly passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police as part of efforts to decentralise policing and address growing insecurity across the country.
The proposed constitutional amendment, which awaits approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before presidential assent, provides for the establishment of state police commands alongside the Nigeria Police Force.
