Opeyemi Bamidele: State Police Bill to Reach Tinubu by December

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele disclosed that the constitutional process for establishing State Police in Nigeria will be completed before December 2026. At least 30 State Houses of Assembly have approved the State Police Constitution Alteration Bill, 2026, fulfilling the requirement under Section 9(2) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates that two-thirds of State Houses of Assembly must support a constitutional amendment.

Bamidele, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, stated that the National Assembly will collate reports from the state assemblies before both chambers pass a resolution by a simple majority. The bill will then be forwarded to President Bola Tinubu for assent.

Bamidele addressed concerns regarding the potential misuse of state police by governors, emphasizing that the reform aims to enhance community-based policing with constitutional safeguards and oversight to prevent abuse.