The Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) has criticised the push to establish state police, describing the Tinubu administration’s plan as questionable and urging Nigerians to oppose the proposal.
The party’s reaction followed the Senate’s approval of a constitutional amendment bill seeking to create state police services across the country, on Wednesday, June 24, a move supporters say will strengthen local security responses.
In a statement issued on Thursday, June 25, PRP National Chairman, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, argued that the current administration lacks both the credibility and public confidence required to oversee such a major restructuring of the nation’s policing system.
“The Peoples Redemption Party is deeply concerned over plans by President Tinubu’s administration to procure State Police through constitutional amendment at a time when its credibility and competence are at an unprecedented low level in our democratic history,” Baba-Ahmed said.
While acknowledging that the government may eventually secure the constitutional backing needed for the reform, the PRP insisted that the proposal should not proceed under the present administration.
“Going by precedent and record, this administration will almost certainly secure what is needed to amend the Constitution and actualise its desire to establish State Police.
“While Nigeria needs a major review and overhaul of its security, law and order institutions to address national security and create an environment that should raise citizens’ confidence and faith in leaders and critical institutions.
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“This administration lacks the moral assets and the trust of Nigerians to undertake a major shift in the policing structure of the country.
“The APC administration has failed to manage our security structure and institutions. Its plan to engineer the emergence of State Police, is suspicious and it should be rejected,” he stated.
The party maintained that the debate on state police should be deferred until after the next general election, arguing that such a significant constitutional change should be handled by a government with stronger public legitimacy.
“The PRP advises that the forthcoming election should be a threshold which should be crossed with credibility and popular acclaim before the nation decides on important issues such as state police structures.
“It further advises the current administration to make more efforts towards securing citizens and bringing an end to the nightmare under which we all live,” Baba-Ahmed added.
The Senate passed the State Police Bill on Wednesday after securing the support of more than two-thirds of lawmakers.
The proposal is part of broader constitutional amendments aimed at decentralising policing while retaining federal control over national security matters such as terrorism and border protection.
For the amendment to take effect, it must still be approved by at least 24 state Houses of Assembly and signed into law by the President.