The Senate on Sunday said the proposed State Police Bill contains constitutional safeguards that would allow the federal police to intervene in cases of electoral intimidation, serious human rights violations and threats to national security, dismissing concerns that governors could abuse the proposed policing system for political purposes.

The upper chamber also defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, revealing that 84 of the 109 senators voted in support of the legislation during its clause-by-clause consideration, describing the outcome as evidence of broad bipartisan backing.

The clarification comes amid growing debate over the proposed decentralisation of policing, with supporters arguing that state police would strengthen security at the grassroots, while critics fear governors could exploit the outfit to intimidate political opponents ahead of elections.

Defending the Senate’s position in a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the proposed amendment clearly delineates the constitutional responsibilities of the federal and state police to minimise operational conflicts and improve security coordination.

He explained that the federal police would continue to handle the protection of federal institutions, policing of the Federal Capital Territory, counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking, interstate criminal activities and other national security matters, while state police would be responsible for enforcing state laws, maintaining public order and protecting lives and property within their jurisdictions.

Bamidele said the bill equally contains several safeguards designed to prevent governors from abusing state police.

He explained that although governors may nominate commissioners of police, such appointments would require recommendations by the National Police Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of the relevant state House of Assembly.

The Senate Leader added that the National Police Council would oversee overall policy, funding and appointments, while an independent State Police Service Commission would regulate state police operations without the control of state governors.

Explaining the circumstances under which the federal police may intervene, Bamidele said such action would only be permissible in exceptional situations.

He said, “The intervention can only be granted when there is an outright breakdown of public order; where a state police service is incapable of functioning; where there are serious abuses of fundamental rights; where there is partisan or electoral intimidation; and when national security is heavily strained and threatened.

“To avoid any form of abuse, the bill creates the State Police Service Commission. In design, the commission will serve as the regulatory authority of the state police system.

“Under this arrangement, the commission will be authorised ‘to, without the approval or control of the governor, make rules regulating its own procedure or conferring powers and imposing duties on any officer or authority for the purpose of discharging its functions under the 1999 Constitution.’”

Continuing, Bamidele dismissed claims that the proposal was politically motivated, insisting that it emerged from extensive consultations with the executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and the leadership of the Nigeria Police.

The Ekiti senator added that public hearings conducted across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 produced overwhelming support for the establishment of state police.

He said, “The state police bill was subjected to intense debates at the Senate and House of Representatives. Even though the All Progressives Congress is the majority party, opposition legislators actively took part in the process that approved the state police initiative.

“They exercised their discretion in favour of the proposal, mainly in the national interest and not on a parochial basis. In the Senate, for instance, 84 out of 109 members voted clause by clause in support of the Bill. This accounted for 77.06 per cent approval at the Senate alone.”

He maintained that the proposed constitutional amendment was designed to strengthen accountability and ensure that the creation of a state police enhances national security without undermining democratic governance or citizens’ fundamental rights. (The PUNCH)

Update news