The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has warned the President Bola Tinubu-led administration against allowing the proposed State Police system to be turned into a political weapon against opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Bolaji Abdullahi, National Publicity Secretary of the ADC, who spoke with journalists in Abuja on Monday, said the ADC is closely monitoring moves to establish State Police and would announce its position after further consultations with its members in the National Assembly.
‘We have looked at the possibility of enacting the state police law and actually mobilising it in the service of the ruling party. Our members in the National Assembly are watching closely the process, and we are going to announce our position on this as soon as possible,’ he said.
BusinessDay reports that the State Police Bill is part of ongoing constitutional and legislative efforts to decentralise policing in Nigeria.
The National Assembly has been considering amendments to establish State Police, with lawmakers reviewing provisions on powers, funding, recruitment and oversight. The proposal remains subject to legislative approval and constitutional amendment procedures.
The ADC spokesman said the party is not opposed to State Police in principle, but he argued that decentralised policing could strengthen Nigeria’s security architecture. He, however, said the party’s major concern was the potential use of state-controlled security forces against political opponents.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has charged the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and impartiality in the discharge of their responsibilities ahead of the 2027 general glections, stressing that the Police must never be seen as an instrument of any political interest.
Yomi Odunuga, Special Adviser to George Akume on Media and Publicity, said the President gave the charge at the 2026 Conference and Retreat for Senior Police Officers in Owerri, Imo State.
This is just as he noted that the neutrality and professionalism of the Force are fundamental to public confidence and the credibility of the nation’s democracy.
‘The Police must be seen not as an instrument of any political interest, but as a national institution serving the Nigerian people and protecting the constitutional order.
‘This is fundamental to public trust and to the credibility of our democracy’, he said.
Speaking on the theme of the conference, ‘Developing a Nigeria Police Roadmap for Effective Management of Security During Elections’, President Tinubu said the 2027 elections would require careful preparation, professionalism, impartiality, intelligence-led operations and close coordination among security and electoral stakeholders.
He assured that the Federal Government would provide the necessary support to enable the Force effectively discharge its responsibilities.