The Senate has defended the passage of the state police bill, insisting that the legislation was motivated by national security concerns and broad stakeholder consensus rather than political considerations.
Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele said the constitutional amendment was designed to address Nigeria’s growing insecurity, stressing that the proposed state police system emerged from extensive consultations and nationwide support rather than partisan interests.
Bamidele made the clarification in a statement issued on Sunday through his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs, following reactions that trailed the National Assembly’s approval of the constitutional amendment establishing state police.
Read Also:
- Breaking: Senate Passes Constitutional Amendments To Establish State Police
- Senate Begins Clause-By-Clause Voting On State Police Bill Amid Presence Of Governors, Tinubu’s Chief Of Staff
- Tinubu Sends Constitution Amendment Bill On State Police To Senate
He described the proposed state police as “a child of necessity” and “a product of national consensus, not cynicism,” noting that the country’s deteriorating security situation made the reform an urgent national priority that could no longer be delayed.
According to him, the proposal did not originate recently but formed part of the memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution during the constitutional amendment process.
The Senate leader explained that the recommendation underwent extensive consultations and rigorous legislative scrutiny because of its far-reaching implications.
He said the National Assembly engaged critical stakeholders, including the Executive, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and the leadership of the Nigeria Police Force, in shaping the legislation.
Bamidele added that public hearings held across the six geo-political zones in July 2025 recorded overwhelming support for the creation of state police, with participants endorsing the initiative as a practical response to the nation’s escalating security challenges.
He disclosed that recommendations from the Nigeria Police were incorporated into the bill to strengthen accountability and oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing possible abuse of state police by political actors.
According to him, the backing of the police leadership underscored the strategic importance of the legislation in improving security at the state and local government levels.
Bamidele further revealed that the bill was subjected to extensive debate in both chambers of the National Assembly before its eventual passage, with lawmakers across party lines supporting the measure.
Although the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) holds the majority in the National Assembly, he said members of opposition parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) and the Labour Party, also voted in favour of the bill in the national interest.
He noted that 84 of the Senate’s 109 members voted clause-by-clause in support of the legislation, representing 77.06 per cent approval.
The Senate leader argued that security remains a collective public good that transcends ethnic, religious and political divides, urging opposition parties to offer constructive alternatives that would strengthen peace, national security and democratic governance.
He also expressed disappointment that despite opposing some government policies, opposition leaders had yet to present what he described as credible alternatives capable of addressing the country’s security challenges and advancing democratic governance.
