The Senate on Sunday described the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill, 2026, as a product of broad national consensus driven by the country’s worsening security situation, rather than political expediency.
Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele (APC, Ekiti Central), in a statement issued through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, said the establishment of state police has become a matter of urgent national importance that can no longer be delayed.
“The creation of state police was born out of necessity and not political expediency,” Bamidele stated, adding that the legislative process underwent extensive consultations and constitutional reviews.
According to the Senate Leader, the proposal formed part of several memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution. It was subjected to rigorous scrutiny, including wide stakeholder engagements with the Executive, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force. Public hearings conducted across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 saw overwhelming endorsement of the bill by participants, he noted.
Bamidele disclosed that the Nigeria Police Force played a key role in shaping the bill, particularly in developing accountability and oversight mechanisms to guard against potential abuse by political actors.
“Even though the APC is the majority party, members of opposition parties, including the PDP, ADC, NDC and Labour Party, exercised their discretion in support of the bill in the national interest,” he said.
In the Senate, 84 out of 109 members voted in favour of the bill clause-by-clause, representing a 77.06 per cent approval rating.
The Senate Leader stressed that security remains a collective public good that transcends ethnic, political, and religious divisions, urging opposition parties to contribute constructive ideas that will promote peace and stability in the country.
“Even where they disagree, they have an obligation to offer credible and practical ideas that will make our nation better and stronger,” Bamidele added.
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