Buba Galadima, a leader in the Nigeria Democratic Congress, claimed on Tuesday that President Bola Tinubu and various state governors are pushing for state police forces as a way to weaponize security agencies against political rivals during the 2027 elections. Appearing on Arise Television, Galadima questioned the efficacy of such a move, noting that if the national military and existing police force cannot stabilize the nation, localized police units are unlikely to fare any better.
Galadima argued that the true intention behind this proposal is to create a force of political enforcers tasked with intimidating the opposition and undermining the electoral process. Drawing on historical context, he recalled the era of the native authority police, where local officials frequently detained opposition members on frivolous charges ahead of voting periods. He cautioned that this history of abuse led many to flee their homes to escape persecution.
Furthermore, he raised concerns that state-controlled security could deepen regional and religious divisions. He warned that if these units become dominated by specific ethnic or religious groups, non-indigenes could lose their constitutional rights to live and work freely. Ultimately, Galadima concluded that decentralizing police power would exacerbate national instability rather than resolve it.
