ADC Slams Rushed State Police Legislation
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has denounced the way the federal government pushed the State Police bill through the National Assembly, calling the process hasty and politically motivated.
In a statement released on Friday by National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the rushed passage reflects panic rather than a thoughtful strategy to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security situation.
State Police Idea Not New, But Execution Flawed
The ADC acknowledges that the concept of state police is not novel; decentralized policing has been debated for years and enjoys wide support. What is new, according to the party, is the Tinubu administration’s attempt to portray the long‑standing consensus as a fresh breakthrough and a quick fix for the current insecurity crisis.
Abdullahi warned that treating state police as a silver bullet ignores the reality that structural reforms take time to yield results and cannot immediately stop the wave of kidnappings, banditry and terrorism.
Implementation Challenges Highlighted
The party listed a series of practical hurdles that must be addressed before any state police force can become effective: recruitment, vetting, training, equipment, funding, command structures, operational guidelines and independent oversight.
It also raised concerns about the risk of creating another institution vulnerable to political abuse, questioning what safeguards will prevent state police from being used for intimidation and how oversight will be guaranteed.
Timing and Motives Questioned
The ADC wondered why the Tinubu administration waited until the tail end of its tenure to push a constitutional amendment for state police, suggesting the move is more about creating an appearance of action than delivering genuine reform.
While agreeing that legislation is only the first step, the party stressed that the accompanying institutional building cannot be rushed, especially with elections looming. Criminal elements will not pause while new structures are being assembled, the statement noted.
Ultimately, the ADC called for a carefully designed, consultative process that prioritizes effectiveness over political theater, warning that a hasty approach could produce a police force prone to misuse and fail to address the root causes of insecurity.
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