The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is urging the House of Representatives to restart the legislative review for the proposed State Police Constitution Alteration Bill. Represented by National Publicity Secretary Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party issued a statement on Tuesday emphasizing that such a significant constitutional change demands a transparent and inclusive approach.
While the ADC supports establishing state police to improve national security, it rejects the current legislative procedure. The party cited allegations that the bill was passed using irregular methods, including counting votes cast via WhatsApp by absent lawmakers and including members who merely signed an attendance register rather than participating in the vote.
The ADC stressed that constitutional amendments require rigorous adherence to established protocols. They claimed that the current proposal bypassed critical clause-by-clause scrutiny and failed to address substantive constitutional objections. Furthermore, the party argued that the public has not had sufficient opportunity to review the latest iteration of the bill, which contains policy shifts absent from previous discussions.
The statement warned that passing the bill for political expediency risks creating flawed legislation that ignores the needs of citizens. To ensure the framework is effective and resistant to abuse, the ADC insists the House must initiate a new, open process that allows for thorough public debate and full compliance with constitutional mandates.
