State Police Bill Driven by National Consensus, Not Politics – Senate Leader

The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, describing the proposed legislation as a product of national consensus aimed at addressing Nigeria’s worsening security challenges rather than political expediency.

Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central), stated this in a statement issued to journalists on Sunday in Abuja by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, stressing that the move to establish state police was borne out of necessity and broad-based consultations across the country.

According to Bamidele, the proposal is of urgent national importance and should not be overshadowed by political ambitions or partisan considerations.

“The State Police Bill is purely a child of necessity and not of political expediency. It is also a product of national consensus and not of cynicism,” he said.

He noted that the process of introducing state police into Nigeria’s governance structure did not begin recently, explaining that the proposal originated from memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

Bamidele said the proposal underwent rigorous scrutiny and multi-layered consultations nationwide because of its sensitive nature.

According to him, the National Assembly consulted widely with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, the leadership of the Nigeria Police and other key stakeholders before the bill was passed.

He disclosed that public hearings conducted across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 recorded overwhelming support for the establishment of state police.

“At every stage of our consultations, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in view of the stark security realities confronting the country,” he said.

The Senate leader added that recommendations from the Nigeria Police played a significant role in shaping the accountability and oversight mechanisms in the bill to prevent political actors from abusing state police.

He said the support of the Nigeria Police underscored the legislation’s strategic importance in addressing insecurity at the state and local government levels.

Bamidele also highlighted the bipartisan support the bill received in the National Assembly, noting that lawmakers across party lines voted in favour of the proposal.

“Even though the APC is the majority party, members of opposition parties, including the PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party, exercised their discretion in support of the bill, mainly in the national interest and not on a parochial basis,” he said.

He revealed that 84 of the 109 senators voted in favour of the bill during clause-by-clause consideration, representing 77.06 per cent approval in the Senate.

Describing security as a collective public good that transcends ethnic, political and religious differences, Bamidele urged political leaders to place national interest above partisan considerations.

He also challenged opposition parties to offer constructive alternatives that would strengthen peace, stability and national development.

When they disagree on some grounds, they are under an obligation 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.