‎The sight at the Senate Chamber, on Wednesday, was both unusual and deeply revealing. On a day that should ordinarily have been left to the senators to discharge their Constitutional responsibilities, the Senate Chamber reportedly played host to an extraordinary gathering of some of Nigeria’s most powerful political figures, all in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the same party as President Bola Tinubu.
‎Among those present at the Red Chamber were: President Tinubu’s Chief of Staff, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila; the Governor of Kaduna State, Senator Uba Sani; the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa; the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun; as well as the attorneys-generals from several states across the federation.

‎Recall, that Tinubu had on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 transmitted a Constitutional Amendment Bill to the Senate, seeking for the establishment of State Police in Nigeria.
‎The presence of the APC chiefs immediately raised eyebrows. Why would governors, presidential aides and state attorneys-general, abandon the enormous responsibilities of governance, to personally witness, and by implication, supervise proceedings on a constitutional amendment?

‎Why was this particular bill considered so crucial that it warranted such a high-powered political gathering at the National Assembly? The answer, many Nigerians fear, may have little to do with improving security in the country.
‎No one disputes that Nigeria faces a frightening security crisis. From terrorism in the North East to banditry in the North West, kidnapping in the South East, and violent crimes across the country, the case for reforming Nigeria’s security architecture has long been made.
‎Indeed, calls for the State Police did not begin today. For years, governors, traditional rulers, security experts and civil society organisations (CSOs) have argued that a centrally controlled Police Force is overstretched and incapable of effectively policing a country of over 220 million people.

‎However, timing in politics is everything. The sudden urgency with which the current administration appears to be pursuing State Police just a few months to another general elections, has understandably triggered suspicion.
‎Ironically, had former President Goodluck Jonathan proposed State Police in 2014, particularly in the build-up to the 2015 general elections, many of those who now champion the idea would almost certainly have denounced it as a sinister attempt to manipulate the electoral process.

‎What has changed? This question becomes even more pertinent when one considers Nigeria’s political reality. Nigerians have witnessed how governors exercise enormous influence over Institutions within their states. Allegations of intimidation of opposition figures, suppression of dissent voices and the deployment of political thugs during elections, are not uncommon.

‎If elected, governors with their current powers, are often accused of stifling opposition, what would happen when such governors have direct control over an armed police force? Would opposition parties be able to campaign freely? Would citizens feel safe attending rallies? Would Journalists and activists operate without fear?
‎The fear is not necessarily about State Police itself; rather, it is about the possibility of abuse.
‎Who will recruit and discipline state police officers, especially if the creation is rushed? Who will fund them? Who will prevent governors from turning them into personal enforcers? What independent mechanisms will exist to investigate abuses and guarantee operational autonomy?
‎Until these questions are convincingly answered, public suspicion will continue to rise.