The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele.
The Senate on Sunday defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, insisting that 84 of the 109 senators voted in support of the bill during its clause-by-clause consideration, describing the outcome as evidence of broad bipartisan backing for the constitutional amendment.
Defending the Senate’s decision in a statement issued by his media office, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the proposal was the product of years of consultations, public hearings and stakeholder engagements across the country.
Bamidele also dismissed claims that the proposal was driven by partisan interests, insisting that it emerged from extensive consultations with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and the leadership of the Nigeria Police.
He noted that public hearings conducted across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 produced overwhelming support for state police.
