House of Reps Passes State Police Bill Amid Protests

On Thursday, the House of Representatives passed the state police establishment bill transmitted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with a total of 311 members voting in support. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen announced that 276 members voted via the House’s WhatsApp platform, while 35 participated virtually.

The required two-thirds majority for passage was 240 votes. Following the vote, the minority caucus, led by Minority Leader Frederick Agbedi, protested the procedure, stating that the Speaker did not allow a clause-by-clause consideration of the bill, breaching Order 13(5a) of the Standing Orders of the House.

Agbedi expressed surprise that the Speaker ignored his point of order regarding amendments during the consideration. He emphasized that while the minority caucus is not against state police, the lack of due process in the passage of the bill is unacceptable.

The minority caucus staged a walkout during the vote.