Opposition party alleges constitutional violations in House vote, calls for fresh debate and wider public consultation.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) 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 in violation of constitutional procedures.
The opposition party made the demand in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, arguing that the constitutional threshold for passing the amendment was allegedly met through votes sent via WhatsApp by absent lawmakers and by counting legislators who had signed the attendance register but were no longer present during voting.
The ADC maintained that while it supports the establishment of state police to address Nigeria’s growing security challenges, any constitutional amendment must strictly comply with laid-down legislative procedures. The party warned that failure to follow due process could undermine the legitimacy of the proposed policing framework.
According to the party, reports from lawmakers who participated in the July 23 plenary suggested that votes transmitted through WhatsApp were accepted during the voting process, while some lawmakers who had left the chamber were allegedly included in the final count. It also faulted the handling of the bill, alleging that clause-by-clause consideration was rushed and constitutional objections raised by some members were not adequately addressed.
The ADC further argued that the current version of the bill has not received sufficient public scrutiny despite introducing major reforms capable of reshaping Nigeria’s security architecture. It stressed that the objective should not merely be the creation of another police institution but the development of a framework capable of effectively tackling insecurity while preventing political abuse.
The party cautioned against what it described as legislative haste, warning that inadequate consultation could result in constitutional amendments requiring future reversals. It therefore urged the House of Representatives to recommit the bill to a transparent, constitutional and inclusive process that would allow broader stakeholder participation and strengthen public confidence in the proposed state police framework.
The House of Representatives passed the constitutional amendment bill seeking to establish state police on July 23 as part of ongoing efforts to decentralise policing and strengthen internal security across the country. Supporters say the reform will improve community policing and intelligence gathering, while critics have raised concerns about possible political interference by state governments.