The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, insisting that the country’s security challenges require urgent action and should not be sacrificed on the altar of politics.
The upper legislative chamber said the proposed state police framework was born out of national necessity and broad consultations, rather than political considerations.
The Senate’s position followed criticisms trailing Wednesday’s passage of the constitutional amendment bill, which seeks to establish state police across the federation.
Among the critics was the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, who urged that the implementation of state police be delayed until after the 2027 general elections.
Obi argued that introducing the new policing structure before the elections could expose it to political manipulation if adequate safeguards were not put in place.
Also faulting the proposal, National Chairman of the Peoples Redemption Party, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, said the current administration lacked the credibility to implement state police, describing the period as “the worst possible time” for such a major security reform.
Reacting in a statement on Sunday, Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, dismissed the criticisms, stressing that the legislation was conceived purely in the national interest.
According to him, “The State Police Bill is purely a child of necessity and not of political expediency as well as a product of national consensus and not of cynicism.”
Bamidele, who represents Ekiti Central Senatorial District, said the proposal was designed to address Nigeria’s worsening security situation and should not be delayed because of political calculations or personal ambitions.
He explained that the bill did not emerge overnight but was one of the memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and subsequently subjected to extensive consultations.
The lawmaker disclosed that the National Assembly engaged the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force and other critical stakeholders before the bill was passed.
He added that public hearings were held across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025, where stakeholders overwhelmingly supported the creation of state police.
“At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of the stark realities we are facing today,” Bamidele said.
He noted that recommendations by the Nigeria Police helped lawmakers incorporate accountability and oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing governors or other political actors from abusing state police.
According to him, the support of the Nigeria Police further underscored the strategic importance of the proposed legislation in tackling insecurity at both state and community levels.
Bamidele also dismissed suggestions that the bill was driven by the ruling party, noting that lawmakers across party lines voted in support of the proposal.
“Even though the APC is the majority, members of the PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party also exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest,” he said.
He disclosed that 84 of the 109 senators voted in support of the bill during the clause-by-clause consideration, representing 77.06 per cent approval in the Senate.
The Senate Leader maintained that security should never become a partisan issue, urging political leaders to put the country’s safety above party interests.
“Political actors elsewhere always throw off their togas of partisanship to support initiatives that will reinforce national security,” he said.
He called on opposition parties to offer constructive ideas that would strengthen peace and national stability rather than merely criticising government initiatives.
“Even when they disagree, they are under obligation to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our nation better and greater,” Bamidele added.
