Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has urged the Federal Government to postpone the rollout of state police until after the 2027 general elections, citing risks of political manipulation and abuse.
In a statement released on Thursday, June 26, 2026, Obi warned that introducing the new policing system before the polls could enable governors to use state-controlled forces to intimidate opponents, suppress opposition activities, 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.
While acknowledging that the passage of the State Police Bill by the National Assembly is a positive step toward
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