Akpabio’s aide blasts Peter Obi over criticism of State Police Bill

Akpabio’s aide blasts Peter Obi over criticism of State Police Bill

The media aide to Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Tijani Mustapha, has taken a swipe at the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, accusing him of criticising the recently passed State Police Bill without reading its provisions.

Mustapha’s reaction followed Obi’s criticism of the Senate’s passage of the State Police Bill, which the former Anambra State governor described as hurried and lacking due legislative scrutiny.

Obi had argued that the speed with which the National Assembly approved the constitutional amendment heightened public suspicion over the political intentions behind the proposed creation of state police. According to him, the absence of a broad public hearing and extensive stakeholder consultations raised concerns about the transparency of the legislative process.

The former Labour Party presidential candidate further warned that allowing states to establish their own police forces without strong institutional safeguards could expose the system to political abuse.

“The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” Obi stated.

He maintained that state police would only become a credible solution to Nigeria’s worsening security crisis if the law establishes truly independent oversight institutions insulated from political interference.

According to Obi, each state should have an autonomous State Police Service Commission with constitutional guarantees that prevent governors or other political office holders from exercising undue influence over recruitment, promotions, discipline and operational decisions.

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Responding in a post on X, Mustapha dismissed Obi’s criticism, insisting that the former presidential candidate had failed to study the bill before commenting on it.

“You clearly didn’t read the bill as passed,” Mustapha wrote.

According to him, Obi’s principal concern regarding an independent State Police Service Commission had already been addressed in the legislation approved by the Senate.

“I know this because his major concern of the creation of an independent State Police Service Commission was duly addressed in the bill.

“For a man who doesn’t know the meaning of KPI, one again wonders what this individual’s mental capacities are,” Mustapha added.

The State Police Bill is one of the most significant constitutional reform proposals currently before the National Assembly. It seeks to decentralise policing by allowing states to establish and operate their own police services alongside the Nigeria Police Force, which has remained the country’s only constitutionally recognised police institution since 1999.

The bill provides for the establishment of State Police Service Commissions in every state to oversee recruitment, appointments, promotions and disciplinary matters. The commissions are intended to function independently as oversight bodies to reduce political interference in the administration of state police.

The proposed legislation also outlines minimum operational standards, coordination between federal and state police agencies, funding arrangements, training requirements and mechanisms for cooperation on national security matters. It further provides circumstances under which the Federal Government may intervene where security situations overwhelm state police formations.

Supporters of the bill argue that decentralising policing will strengthen intelligence gathering, improve community policing and enable quicker responses to crimes such as kidnapping, banditry, terrorism and communal violence.

However, opponents remain concerned that governors could exploit state police to intimidate political opponents, influence elections and suppress dissent despite the safeguards contained in the bill.

Although the Senate has passed the State Police Bill, the constitutional amendment process is not yet complete.

For the proposal to become law, it must secure approval from at least two-thirds of Nigeria’s 36 State Houses of Assembly before it is transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for presidential assent.

The debate over state police remains one of Nigeria’s most contentious constitutional issues, with supporters viewing it as a solution to the country’s persistent insecurity, while critics continue to demand stronger constitutional safeguards against abuse.

Akpabio’s aide blasts Peter Obi over criticism of State Police Bill