The North-Central All Progressives Congress (APC) Forum has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to reject proposals for the creation of State police in Nigeria, warning that such a move would endanger democracy, minority groups, and religious freedom.
The forum, in a statement on Friday through its chairman, Saleh Zazzaga, a member of the APC campaign council in the 2023 elections, reacted to Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang’s recent declaration that ‘the time for state police has come’ during a court session marking the 2025/2026 legal year in Jos.
Rejecting the proposal, the Forum argued that state police would worsen insecurity, encourage impunity, and destabilize democracy.
‘State police will only lead to anarchy and increased impunity across the country, and as a result, these calls should be rejected by all right-thinking Nigerians,’ it said.
The group alleged that governors already exploit the Federal police despite lacking direct control, and warned that giving them full command of state police would be disastrous.
‘As we speak, most governors are using the machinery of the state to intimidate, oppress, and harass minority groups and the opposition. We are afraid of how far they will go when they now have a full-fledged police force at their beck and call. State police will give them the license to do and undo,’ the statement read.
The Forum noted that Federal police are already being misused to destroy businesses and properties of opponents, raising fears of far greater abuse.
‘What they are doing now will be child’s play compared to what they will do when they have their own police force,’ it warned.
According to the Forum, State police would become a weapon of oppression, ‘State police will derail the democratic system as it will be used to suppress dissent and turn governors into dictators.
‘With state police, anybody seen as an opponent of government would be hounded, jailed, or worse still, lose their lives. Opposition will be criminalized.’
The Forum also expressed fears over religious implications in the North-Central region, warning, ‘We don’t want state police in the North-Central, which is a secular region with minority groups and diverse religions.
‘We have observed that some governors in the region don’t want to accommodate minorities, including their religious practices.
‘If you arm these governors with state police, they will criminalize the traditional practices and religions of minority groups.’
It further accused some governors of prioritizing religion over governance, emphasising that, ‘One of the biggest problems in Nigeria at the moment is that most governors are practicing religion more than governance.
‘They believe in religious doctrines more than the Constitution. If you give them state police armed with AK-47s, what will be the fate of those who do not agree with them?’
The Forum maintained that creating State police would be counterproductive and could plunge Nigeria into crisis, urging President Tinubu, lawmakers, civil society groups, and Nigerians to resist the proposal.
‘These are the reasons why we, the North-Central APC Forum, are urging President Bola Tinubu and members of the National Assembly, especially senators and representatives who have the interest of the country at heart, to reject calls for state police.
‘State Police is an evil wind that will not blow anyone any good. We also urge civil society organizations and all Nigerians to reject this proposal,’ the Forum noted.