Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF), a coalition of Nigeria's major socio-cultural organizations, has thrown its weight behind the proposed establishment of state police but with a firm and non-negotiable condition: governors must be granted full constitutional powers to appoint and remove state Commissioners of Police, just as the President currently exercises authority over the Inspector-General of Police. The forum, comprising Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), and the Middle Belt Forum, warned that anything less would amount to creating what it described as a "Federal State Police" rather than a genuinely decentralised policing system rooted in true federalism.
The position was formalised in a communiqué issued on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, following a general meeting of stakeholders and elder statesmen held at PANDEF's liaison office in Abuja. Reading the communiqué, the Chairman of the forum and factional leader of Afenifere, Chief Oladipo Olaitan, reiterated the group's long-standing advocacy for state policing but stressed that the new structure must reflect the principles of true federalism. "SMBLF welcomes state police, of which we have been advocates over the years, but insists that state police should reflect true federalism and not a Federal State Police," Olaitan declared. "To that end, state governors shall have the same power to appoint or remove a Commissioner of Police as the President in relation to the Inspector-General of Police".
The meeting brought together a cross-section of influential leaders from the southern and middle-belt regions. Among those present were former Akwa Ibom State Governor Obong Victor Attah; former Enugu State Governor Okwesilieze Nwodo; National Chairman of PANDEF, Dr Godknows Igali; President of the Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu; and other prominent delegates from Afenifere, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, and the Pan Niger Delta Forum. The gathering reflected a rare unity of purpose among the country's major ethnic nationalities on a critical governance issue that has divided opinion across the federation.
The forum's insistence on gubernatorial control over state police commissioners is rooted in a broader demand for restructuring and the devolution of powers to the federating units. The leaders argued that the current proposal before the National Assembly, which establishes state police but retains significant federal oversight, falls short of the true federalism that Nigeria urgently needs. "Anything short of such autonomy would amount to creating a 'Federal State Police' rather than a genuinely decentralised policing system," the communiqué stated. This position aligns with Afenifere's earlier call for policing to be placed on the Concurrent Legislative List and for the State Police Bill to be reviewed to prevent excessive federal control.
Beyond policing, the forum renewed its longstanding demand for a new constitution that would devolve more powers to the states and better reflect Nigeria's federal character. The leaders declared that they would mobilise the people to vote only for a presidential candidate committed to delivering a new constitution for Nigeria. On the 2027 general elections, the regional leaders reaffirmed their earlier position that the presidency should remain in the South after President Bola Tinubu's first term, arguing that such an arrangement was necessary for national cohesion and political stability.
The forum also expressed deep concern over what it described as the erosion of internal democracy across political parties, condemning the alleged dominance of party structures by a few individuals during the ongoing primary elections. "The essence of democracy is free choice by the people," Olaitan said. "The situation of one person or an oligarchy of a few choosing candidates in a political system that excludes independent candidates is antithetical to democracy and national development". The forum advocated for reforms that would strengthen Nigeria's multi-party democracy, including the introduction of independent candidacy.
On the security front, the SMBLF commended the armed forces for recent gains against criminal elements in parts of the country, particularly in Oyo, Zamfara and Borno states. However, the leaders urged the Federal Government to sustain the momentum and intensify actions in violence-prone states across the Middle Belt, including Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Kwara, and Kogi. The forum also called for stronger collaboration with neighbouring countries and the international community to tackle insecurity.
The regional leaders urged the judiciary to remain fiercely independent in discharging its constitutional responsibilities, while calling on the media to continue its watchdog role in defending Nigeria's democracy. On electoral reforms, the forum insisted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) must bear "the burden of proof" that elections conducted under its watch are free, fair and credible.
The SMBLF's endorsement of state police, conditional on full gubernatorial control, represents a significant intervention in the ongoing national debate on security architecture reform. As Nigeria grapples with escalating banditry, kidnapping, and terrorism that have overwhelmed the federal police force, the demand for state police has gained unprecedented traction across political and regional lines. However, the forum's insistence on governors' power to appoint and remove commissioners is likely to fuel further debate over the balance between federal oversight and state autonomy in the proposed policing structure.
For the federal government and the National Assembly, which is currently considering the State Police Bill, the SMBLF's position presents both a challenge and an opportunity. The coalition's broad-based support for the principle of state policing could help build the political consensus needed to pass the legislation. However, its demand for full gubernatorial control over police commissioners will test the administration's willingness to devolve significant powers to the states. As the country prepares for the 2027 elections, the debate over state police and true federalism is set to remain at the forefront of Nigeria's political discourse, with the SMBLF positioning itself as a key player in shaping the outcome.
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