Peter Obi Calls for Delay of State Police Until 2027

Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the federal government to delay the implementation of state police until after the 2027 general elections. He warned that the new policing system could be exploited for political purposes, potentially allowing governors to deploy state-controlled police forces to intimidate political opponents and disrupt opposition activities.

Obi expressed concerns that there is no guarantee that the current administration would resist the temptation to use state police to influence the upcoming elections. He noted that while the passage of the state police bill by the National Assembly is a step toward addressing Nigeria's security challenges, the legislative process should involve broader public consultation and greater community participation.

Obi emphasized the need for an independent state-level police service commission to insulate the police from executive influence and ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than elite interests.