SDP candidate backs state police, urges trust in governors

Adewole Adebayo, the presidential candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), has voiced strong support for the proposed establishment of state police forces. He argues that potential misuse by governors should not derail the reform, emphasizing that policing is a fundamental responsibility of any government tier within a federation.

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The moment you have a federation, you have legislative lists given to different levels of government. It goes without saying that every level of government is authorised to police.

Adebayo drew parallels between concerns over governors misusing state police and the existing risks of federal authorities, including the president, misusing the federal police. "If you don’t trust the governors, why would you trust the president?" he questioned, pointing to historical instances of presidential misuse of police power. He asserted that a governor's performance, including their handling of law enforcement, would be a key factor for voters in the next election.

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If you don’t trust the governors, why would you trust the president? There are histories of a president misusing the police. So why have we not abolished the presidency or the federal police?

To ensure the operational independence and stability of state police, Adebayo proposed that their funding be directly deducted from the Federation Account. He likened this arrangement to the constitutional provision for direct funding of state judiciaries, arguing it guarantees essential institutions receive necessary funds without federal control. The SDP candidate also suggested the potential creation of local government police to manage local regulations and by-laws.

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If you have a governor who is misbehaving, then you vote him out in the next election. How you abuse police, or you don’t abuse police, how you manage law enforcement, will be part of what you consider before deciding whether somebody is fit to be a governor.

The article also notes the legislative progress of the State Police Bill. The Senate passed the bill in June, and the House of Representatives is currently considering the Senate's version. Following passage by both chambers, the bill requires approval from at least 24 state legislatures before it can be sent to the president for assent. Supporters of the bill argue it will enhance local security and crime response.

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It doesn’t mean that the federal government will control. What it means is that the money is spoken for.