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

Lawmakers should be paid per sitting, not monthly salaries — Ndume

Senator representing Borno South Senatorial District, Mohammed Ali Ndume, has renewed his call for sweeping reforms to Nigeria’s legislative system, proposing that the National Assembly should operate on a part-time basis, with lawmakers receiving payments only when they attend plenary sessions and committee meetings.

Speaking during an interview on Trust TV on Friday, the former Senate Chief Whip argued that the current full-time structure of the legislature contributes significantly to the country’s high cost of governance and should be reviewed in line with Nigeria’s economic realities.

According to Ndume, members of the National Assembly do not function like regular civil servants who report to work every day. Instead, he said their official duties are largely centred on legislative sittings, committee engagements, oversight functions and constituency responsibilities, making a full-time arrangement unnecessary.

“To me, I said it, what are we doing? We have been on recess for several times. Let us be paid by sitting. If you sit, you get paid. If you are not sitting, you are not paid,” the senator said.

He added that Nigeria could significantly reduce public spending by adopting a part-time legislature similar to those practised in some democracies where lawmakers maintain professional careers while carrying out legislative duties.

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“And to me, we can even make the National Assembly work part time,” Ndume stated.

Ndume maintained that his proposal is part of broader efforts to reduce Nigeria’s rising cost of governance, which has remained a major concern amid economic hardship, rising inflation and dwindling public revenues.

He argued that political office should be driven by service rather than financial gain, insisting that lawmakers should earn sitting allowances instead of fixed monthly salaries.

According to him, funds saved from running a part-time legislature could be redirected to critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and security.

Ndume has consistently advocated measures aimed at reducing government expenditure and has, on several occasions, urged political office holders to make sacrifices in the interest of national development.

Beyond his proposal for legislative reform, Ndume also expressed reservations over the manner in which the Senate handled discussions on the proposed State Police Bill.

While acknowledging that creating state police could strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture, he warned against making far-reaching constitutional amendments without extensive consultations and careful legislative scrutiny.

The senator stressed that major national policies should not be passed simply because they enjoy executive backing, noting that lawmakers have a constitutional responsibility to thoroughly examine every proposal before approving it.

“Senate is a committee of elders. You just don’t come one day, sit down because the President wants state police, you just pass it overnight.

“You are supposed to sit down, deliberate on it and get the input. We have passed the bill. Has the state police taken off today?” he queried.

According to Ndume, sensitive issues such as state policing require broad engagement with stakeholders, security experts and the Nigerian public to ensure that any constitutional amendment serves the country’s long-term interests.

Ndume’s latest remarks are consistent with his long-standing campaign for reforms within the National Assembly.

Over the years, the Borno lawmaker has repeatedly argued that Nigeria’s legislature is too expensive to maintain and has called for measures that would make it more efficient, transparent and accountable.

His latest proposal is expected to spark fresh debate over lawmakers’ salaries, allowances and the overall structure of the National Assembly, especially at a time when Nigerians continue to demand prudent management of public resources.

Political analysts believe discussions on reducing the cost of governance are likely to gain renewed momentum as the country seeks sustainable ways to address its economic challenges while improving public confidence in democratic institutions.

Lawmakers should be paid per sitting, not monthly salaries — Ndume

Shelve State Police Until After 2027 Election, Obi Tells Tinubu

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Peter Obi, has urged President Bola Tinubu to postpone the implementation of the newly passed State Police framework until after the 2027 general election, warning that the initiative could be exploited for partisan purposes if introduced before the polls .

Obi made the call in a statement posted on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Friday, June 26, 2026, titled “State Police: Commendable Step, but Disorderly Legislation Raises Concerns of Political Misuse” . His intervention comes barely days after the Senate passed the Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police, a landmark reform aimed at decentralising Nigeria’s policing system in response to growing insecurity across the country .

Obi began by acknowledging the significance of the legislative milestone. He noted that the passage of the State Police Bill represents a long-standing demand of the Nigerian people, as many security experts and regional stakeholders have consistently argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria . “For years, many of us, alongside security experts and regional stakeholders, have consistently argued that a highly centralised policing structure is fundamentally unsuitable for a country as vast, diverse, and complex as Nigeria,” Obi stated .

However, the former Anambra State governor criticised what he described as a flawed and disorderly legislative process that lacked adequate public participation and transparency . He expressed concern that such a sensitive constitutional amendment was rushed through without proper public hearings, which has fuelled suspicion among observers about the political motives behind the initiative . “The mechanism for passing the law appears highly disorganised, with no public hearing on such a sensitive issue. Indeed, the rush to enact the law without proper legislative procedures fuels suspicion among many observers about the political motives behind it,” he said . Obi maintained that such a far-reaching security reform required extensive engagement with citizens and stakeholders, insisting that policing should be more visible at the community and local government levels .

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Obi said his greatest concern was not logistical issues but the possibility that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors to intimidate political opponents, disrupt opposition activities, and manipulate elections . He cited Nigeria’s political history as justification for this fear, warning that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised against political rivals . “The greatest concern does not arise from logistical issues; it stems from history. There is a widespread, justifiable fear that state police forces could become instruments in the hands of governors. The suspicion is that a state-controlled police force could be weaponised to suppress political rivals, disrupt opposition rallies, and manipulate elections,” he warned .

To guard against such abuses, Obi called for the establishment of independent oversight institutions insulated from executive interference before state police become operational . He proposed the creation of state-level Police Service Commissions that are entirely free from executive influence to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite . “For state policing to evolve from a risky political gamble into a genuine security solution, the law must not only permit states to establish police forces but also clearly provide for independent oversight bodies, such as a state-level Police Service Commission that is entirely free from executive influence, to ensure that policing serves the public interest rather than the interests of the ruling elite,” he said .

Obi further expressed doubts that the current administration would resist the temptation to use state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy, given what Nigerians have witnessed so far . He argued that implementing the new State Police law before the next general election could allow governors to deploy state-controlled police forces to intimidate political opponents and influence electoral outcomes . “Going by what Nigerians have seen so far, there is no guarantee that this administration can resist the temptation to take advantage of state policing to influence the 2027 general election by proxy. In view of that possibility and the danger it poses to the polity, it is necessary to defer its implementation until after the general election,” Obi stated . He concluded his statement with his trademark slogan: “A New Nigeria is Possible” .

The Senate on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, passed the landmark Constitution Alteration Bill seeking to establish state police across the federation, marking a major step in Nigeria’s decades-long debate over decentralising the country’s policing structure . The bill was approved after a clause-by-clause consideration during plenary and secured the support of more than two-thirds of senators through a manual voting process after the electronic voting system crashed . The proposed constitutional amendment empowers states to establish and operate their own police services, while retaining a Federal Police Service with overarching responsibility for national security, including terrorism, border protection, and other federal offences . The bill now awaits approval by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly before it can be transmitted to President Bola Tinubu for assent and eventual implementation .

The passed bill introduces significant constitutional safeguards to prevent abuse of state police powers by political office holders . Under the proposal, governors would be constitutionally barred from deploying state police services for partisan, ethnic, religious, sectional, or personal purposes . The bill further provides for the establishment of independent State Police Service Commissions in each state to oversee recruitment, promotions, discipline, and general administration . Additionally, federal intervention in state police operations would be permitted only under exceptional circumstances, such as a breakdown of public order, serious violations of fundamental rights, or electoral intimidation, and would require written authorisation by the president subject to Senate oversight .

Shelve State Police Until After 2027 Election, Obi Tells Tinubu