The Senate has defended its proposed state police framework, saying it contains provisions empowering the Federal Government to intervene where state-controlled security agencies are used to intimidate political opponents or threaten public safety.
Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, said the proposed constitutional amendment was designed to prevent governors from turning state police into instruments of political control, particularly during elections.
Bamidele, in a statement issued by his media office on Sunday, said federal police intervention would be permitted in exceptional circumstances, including electoral intimidation, serious human rights abuses and breakdown of public order.
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He said the federal police could also step in where a state police service became incapable of functioning or where national security faced serious threats.
“The intervention can only be granted when there is an outright breakdown of public order; where a state police service is incapable of functioning; where there are serious abuses of fundamental rights; where there is partisan or electoral intimidation; and when national security is heavily strained and threatened,” he said.
The Senate Leader's clarification comes amid concerns that state governors could deploy local police formations against opposition figures and political opponents.
He explained that the proposed legislation also provides for an independent State Police Service Commission to regulate state police operations without being subject to governors' control.
Under the proposed arrangement, governors would nominate commissioners of police, but their appointments would require recommendations from the National Police Council and approval by a two-thirds majority of the relevant state House of Assembly.
Bamidele said the National Police Council would oversee policy, funding and appointments, while the independent commission would regulate the operations of state police.
He also outlined the responsibilities of both tiers of policing, saying the federal police would retain control of counter-terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, border security, arms trafficking and interstate criminal activities.
State police, he added, would focus on enforcing state laws, maintaining public order and protecting lives and property within their jurisdictions.
Defending the legislative process, Bamidele disclosed that 84 of the 109 senators supported the bill during its clause-by-clause consideration, representing 77.06 per cent approval.
He said the proposal enjoyed bipartisan support, with opposition lawmakers participating in the process despite the All Progressives Congress having a majority in the National Assembly.
“Their discretion was exercised in favour of the proposal, mainly in the national interest and not on a parochial basis,” he said.
Bamidele added that the bill followed consultations with the Federal Government, Nigeria Governors' Forum, Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures and Nigeria Police leadership.
He said public hearings held across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025 also recorded overwhelming support for the establishment of state police.
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