NILDS warns governors could use state police against political opponents

Nigeria's proposed state police system could give governors a powerful instrument against political opponents unless lawmakers build in adequate safeguards, the head of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies warned.

Abubakar Sulaiman said in Abuja that he supported state police as a possible response to insecurity. His concern was whether governors could exercise direct control over police formations responsibly, given the conduct of some state administrations.

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If the control of state police will be under the governors at the state level, with due respect, how mature and politically cultured are our governors? How enabled are they in terms of their psyche, their temperament? These are worries.

Sulaiman pointed to the alleged failure of some governors to respect a Supreme Court judgment on local government financial autonomy. He said governors who disregarded judicial pronouncements might also abuse the authority that would come with controlling state police.

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If they could violate a pronouncement, or ruling of the Supreme Court, maybe the only person they cannot violate His directive is God.

“If they could violate a pronouncement, or ruling of the Supreme Court, maybe the only person they cannot violate His directive is God,” he said. He also questioned the record of state governments during local government elections, alleging that opposition parties were often denied a fair chance to campaign and compete.

“Tell me one state where state governors have allowed opposition to have their way when it comes to local government election, up till today,” Sulaiman said. He asked whether a governor with that record should then be given control of the police. His comments add a political-abuse warning to the security arguments surrounding the proposed reform.

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Tell me one state where state governors have allowed opposition to have their way when it comes to local government election, up till today.