ADC rejects Reps’ passage of state police bill

The African Democratic Congress has called on the House of Representatives to recommit the proposed constitutional amendment on state police to a fresh legislative process, alleging that the bill was passed through a procedure that violated constitutional requirements.

The opposition party claimed that the constitutional threshold required for the passage of the constitution alteration bill was only achieved by recognising votes sent through the social media messaging platform, WhatsApp, by lawmakers who were absent from the chamber and by counting members who had signed the attendance register but were no longer present when voting took place.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party argued that any constitutional amendment must strictly comply with laid-down procedures, warning that the legitimacy of the proposed state police framework could be undermined if due process was ignored.

“The Constitution is not amended by convenience. It is amended through strict procedures that leave no room for improvisation. Therefore, regardless of the noble intentions behind the amendment, the constitutional process for amendment must not be circumvented,” the party said.

The ADC pledged its support for the establishment of state police as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s worsening security crisis but insisted that the process of creating such a far-reaching institution must be transparent, constitutional and inclusive.

According to the party, reports from lawmakers who participated in the July 23 plenary indicated that votes transmitted through WhatsApp were accepted in determining whether the bill met the constitutional requirement for passage.

It also questioned the alleged inclusion of lawmakers who were no longer in the chamber at the time the question was put before the House.

“These allegations raise profound legal and constitutional concerns,” the statement added.

Beyond the controversy over the voting process, the ADC faulted the handling of the legislation during consideration, alleging that clause-by-clause scrutiny of the bill was curtailed and constitutional objections raised by some lawmakers were not adequately addressed.

“Constitutional alteration demands openness, robust debate and strict fidelity to both the Constitution and the Standing Orders of the House. This appears not to be the case in respect of this particular amendment,” Abdullahi stated.

The party further argued that the current version of the state police bill had not undergone sufficient public scrutiny despite introducing significant policy changes capable of reshaping Nigeria’s security architecture.

While acknowledging that state police has featured in previous constitutional review exercises, the ADC maintained that the latest proposal contains substantial reforms that Nigerians have not been given the opportunity to thoroughly examine through a dedicated public engagement process.

“It is one thing to pass a bill for political expediency. It is another thing to ensure that it actually solves the problem it was intended to solve. The objective is not merely to establish another police institution. It is to reduce the insecurity that has devastated communities across the country,” the party stated.

Warning against what it described as legislative haste, the ADC said Nigeria could not afford another constitutional amendment that would require subsequent reversals because of inadequate consultation.

“Unless this bill is subjected to rigorous public examination, we risk enacting legislation that has survived only the echo chamber of the ruling party rather than the searching questions of the Nigerian people,” Abdullahi added.

The party urged the House of Representatives to recommit the bill to a process that would guarantee transparency, constitutional compliance and broad stakeholder participation before its eventual passage.

“The ADC therefore calls on the House of Representatives to recommit the Bill to a process that is constitutional, transparent and inclusive. Nigeria deserves a State Police framework that commands public confidence because it has been properly debated, strengthened to guarantee the required outcome and protect against abuse before becoming part of our Constitution,” the statement further read.

The House of Representatives on July 23 passed the constitution alteration bill seeking to establish state police as part of ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria’s policing system and strengthen internal security.

The proposal is one of the most significant constitutional amendments currently before the National Assembly, coming amid growing calls for decentralised policing to address rising insecurity across the country.

Supporters argue that state police would improve intelligence gathering and community policing, while critics have warned that without adequate constitutional safeguards, governors could deploy state-controlled police for political intimidation and abuse.