Nigeria's NNPP cautions against rushing state police reform

Nigeria's New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) has urged caution regarding the proposed creation of state police forces. The party warns that the reform, if rushed without adequate safeguards, could be susceptible to abuse, particularly with the 2027 general elections on the horizon.

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The speed with which this far-reaching legislation was passed has created the impression that critical national issues relating to accountability, oversight, funding, operational independence, and constitutional safeguards were not given the exhaustive public scrutiny they deserve.

Nweze Onu, the Deputy National Chairman of NNPP, expressed concern that the speed of the legislation's passage suggests critical issues like accountability, oversight, funding, and operational independence were not thoroughly examined. He highlighted the potential for state governments to misuse state police to intimidate political opponents and influence elections, citing historical precedents where security institutions were manipulated for partisan gain.

Onu pointed to existing regional security outfits, such as Ebubeagu and Amotekun, as examples where public debates and reported incidents have raised questions about abuses, accountability, and professionalism. He advocated for a thorough evaluation of these existing state-backed security initiatives before a nationwide state police structure is implemented.

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It is my believe that security reform must strengthen the rights and freedoms of Nigerians, not weaken them. Any state police framework must contain clear constitutional guarantees that ensure operational independence, transparent recruitment, professional training, independent complaints mechanisms, judicial oversight, and strict penalties for political misuse.

"Security reform must strengthen the rights and freedoms of Nigerians, not weaken them," Onu stated. He emphasized that any state police framework must include clear constitutional guarantees for operational independence, transparent recruitment, professional training, independent complaints mechanisms, judicial oversight, and strict penalties for political misuse. The party stressed the importance of building institutions that uphold justice and protect all citizens equally, preventing any reform from becoming a tool for political persecution.

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Nigeria deserves security institutions that protect every citizen equally, regardless of political affiliation, ethnicity, religion, or social status. We must never permit any reform, however well-intentioned, to become a tool for political persecution.