Southern Leaders Demand State Police Powers for Governors

On Tuesday, the Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum endorsed the establishment of state police, insisting that governors must have full constitutional powers to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police, akin to the President's authority over the Inspector-General of Police. This position was articulated during a general meeting held at PANDEF’s liaison office in Abuja, attended by notable figures such as former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah and former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo.

Chief Oladipo Olaitan, the forum's chairman and factional leader of Afenifere, reiterated the necessity for state police to embody true federalism rather than a "Federal State Police." The forum also called for a new constitution that would devolve more powers to the federating units. Additionally, they reaffirmed that the presidency should remain in the South after President Bola Tinubu’s first term for national cohesion and expressed concerns over the erosion of internal democracy in political parties during ongoing primary elections.