Former Anambra State Governor and prominent political leader Peter Obi has expressed critical reservations following the National Assembly’s passage of the State Police Bill, describing decentralization as a highly commendable step for Nigeria’s vast security needs but warning that the current disorderly legislation risks severe political misuse. Obi noted that while security experts and regional stakeholders have long argued that a highly centralized policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as diverse and complex as Nigeria, the shaky legislative and constitutional implementation appears deeply flawed due to a total lack of public hearings and community input. The prominent opposition leader raised major alarms over the historical danger of state-controlled forces being weaponized by sitting governors to aggressively suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate electoral processes. To prevent this risky political gamble, Obi insisted that the law must provide for entirely independent state-level Police Service Commissions to shield the forces from executive influence, while strongly advocating that the implementation of state policing be deferred until after the 2027 general elections to ensure the current administration cannot exploit the policy by proxy because a New Nigeria remains entirely possible.
