State Police Cannot Influence 2027 Elections, IPSPR DG Tells Critics

The Director-General of the Institute for Police and Security Policy Research (IPSPR), Charles Omole, has rejected claims that President Bola Tinubu is pushing for the establishment of state police as part of a strategy to influence the 2027 general elections.

Omole made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television, where he argued that it would be practically impossible for any state to establish and operationalise its own police service before the next general election.

His comments come amid ongoing debates over a constitutional amendment bill passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which seeks to amend Section 214 of the Constitution to provide for the creation of federal and state police services.

According to Omole, the legal, constitutional and administrative processes required to establish state police make it unrealistic for the system to be in place before the 2027 polls.

He dismissed suggestions that the proposal was designed to manipulate future elections, arguing that such claims lack practical basis.

The security policy expert further stated that if any administration intended to influence an election through security agencies, relying on the existing centralised police structure would be far easier than creating 36 separate state police organisations.

Omole suggested that President Tinubu's focus is likely on completing the legal and institutional framework for state policing during his current tenure so implementation can begin more smoothly in the future if the reforms are eventually approved.

He also called for the establishment of a federal technical reform team to develop a comprehensive framework for state policing.

According to him, simply replicating the current structure of the Nigeria Police Force across the states without addressing critical issues such as jurisdiction, command structure, funding, training and weapons management could create additional security challenges instead of solving existing ones.

Omole stressed that any transition to state policing should be carefully planned to ensure it strengthens national security rather than creating overlapping responsibilities and operational confusion.