Tinubu stalling state police for election manipulation, says politician

Kenneth Okonkwo, a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has accused Nigerian President Bola Tinubu of deliberately stalling the implementation of state police forces. Okonkwo alleges this delay is a calculated move to allow the administration to allegedly manipulate the 2027 general elections.

The implementation of state police has been a contentious issue in Nigeria, with proponents arguing it would enhance local security and responsiveness. However, critics, like Okonkwo, express concerns that granting states control over police could lead to the politicization of security apparatus, potentially enabling state governors or the federal government to misuse these forces for political gain.

Okonkwo's accusation suggests that the federal government's reluctance to decentralize policing powers is tied to its electoral ambitions. The argument posits that by maintaining federal control over security agencies, the administration can more easily deploy them to influence electoral outcomes, particularly in the lead-up to the 2027 polls.

This stance reflects ongoing debates within Nigeria about the balance of power between the federal government and state authorities, and how security sector reforms can impact democratic processes. The call for state police is often framed as a necessary step towards true federalism, while concerns about its implementation revolve around potential abuses of power.