Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Senate has robustly defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, insisting that the landmark legislation was driven by urgent national security needs and broad consensus rather than political expediency or partisan calculations. In a statement issued on Sunday, June 28, 2026, the Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, described the proposed creation of state police as "a child of necessity and not of political expediency" and "a product of national consensus and not of cynicism," urging Nigerians to view the reform as a critical response to the country's worsening security crisis rather than a tool for political gain.
Bamidele, who spoke through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, emphasised that the proposal to establish state police was a matter of urgent public importance that could not be delayed because of political aspirations or individual ambitions. He stressed that security should transcend partisan politics, describing it as "a collective public good that benefits citizens across ethnic, political and religious divides". The Senate Leader's intervention came amid growing public debate and criticism from some quarters, including opposition figures such as Peter Obi, who have called for the implementation of state police to be postponed until after the 2027 elections.
Bamidele detailed the extensive and inclusive process that led to the bill's passage, noting that the idea of state police did not emerge recently but had evolved through years of constitutional review and stakeholder engagement. The proposal formed part of memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution and was subjected to rigorous scrutiny and multi-tiered consultations across the federation due to its sensitive nature. He disclosed that the National Assembly consulted broadly with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors' Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. In July 2025, the National Assembly conducted public hearings across all six geopolitical zones, where participants overwhelmingly endorsed the proposal. "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 stated.
The Senate Leader also highlighted the significant contributions of the Nigeria Police Force to the drafting of the constitutional amendment, noting that the police leadership formally submitted a memorandum backing the initiative and provided recommendations that helped lawmakers design accountability and oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing the abuse of state police by political actors. According to him, the support of the nation's police leadership underscored the strategic importance of decentralising policing to tackle security threats more effectively at the grassroots level.
Bamidele further revealed that the bill enjoyed bipartisan support in the National Assembly, with lawmakers across party lines supporting the legislation in the national interest. "Even though the APC is the majority, there are members of opposition parties – PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party – that exercised their discretion in favour of the Bill, mainly in the national interest and not on a parochial basis," he said. He disclosed that 84 of the 109 senators voted in favour of the bill during clause-by-clause consideration, representing a 77.06 per cent approval in the Senate alone.
Bamidele also took the opportunity to challenge opposition parties to contribute constructive ideas that would strengthen national peace and stability rather than politicise security reforms. "Even when they disagree on some grounds, they are under obligations to provide credible and useful ideas that can make our nation better and greater. Unfortunately, they have not passed this critical test of opposition democracy," he said. His remarks echoed a growing sentiment among proponents of the reform that the debate over state police should be guided by evidence and national interest rather than political calculations.
The State Police Bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives on June 11, 2026, and by the Senate on June 24, 2026, seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution to permit the establishment of state police as part of broader efforts to strengthen internal security and improve policing at the sub-national level. The bill has now been transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly, where it requires approval by at least 24 of them before it can become law.
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