Peter Obi urges greater community participation in state police.

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), expressed his position on the National Assembly's debate over the State Police Bill.

In a statement released on Friday, Obi said that although the initiative is commendable, disorderly legislation raises concerns about political misuse.

He added that the bill's passage marks a significant legislative milestone in meeting a long‑standing demand of the Nigerian people.

He noted that for years, he and other security experts and regional stakeholders have argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria.

However, he said the legislative and constitutional implementation appears shaky and raises legitimate concerns.

Obi advised that the process of establishing local security outfits should involve greater community participation.

He said policing should be more visible at the local government and community levels.

He said the mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, lacking a public hearing on such a sensitive issue. The rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures, he said, fuels suspicion among observers about its political motives.

He said the greatest concern does not stem from logistical issues but from history. He cited a widespread, justifiable fear that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors.

He warned that a state‑controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections.

Obi further stated that for state policing to evolve from a risky political gamble into a genuine security solution, the law must not only permit states to establish police forces but also clearly provide for independent oversight bodies, such as a state‑level Police Service Commission that is entirely free from executive influence, to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite.

He added that, based on what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that the current administration can resist the temptation to use state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy.

He said that, given that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer implementation until after the general election.