The Senate has defended the Senate state police bill, insisting the legislation addresses urgent national security challenges through extensive consultations and broad stakeholder consensus

The Senate has defended the passage of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Alteration) (State Police) Bill 2026, insisting that the legislation was driven by national security concerns rather than political considerations.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele stated this in a statement issued by his Directorate of Media and Public Affairs on Sunday 28 June 2026, amid criticisms trailing the National Assembly’s approval of the constitutional amendment.

According to him, the proposal to establish state police addresses an urgent national security challenge that should not be undermined by political interests or the ambitions of any individual.

He explained that the proposal did not originate recently but formed part of memoranda submitted to the Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution.

Bamidele said the National Assembly engaged the Executive, the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, the leadership of the Nigeria Police and other relevant stakeholders during the process.

The National Assembly also conducted public hearings across the six geopolitical zones in July 2025, where participants overwhelmingly supported the establishment of state police.

“At each level of our consultation, nearly all stakeholders embraced the State Police Bill in the light of the stark realities we are facing today,” he said.

The Senate Leader noted that the Nigeria Police contributed significantly to the drafting of the legislation by recommending accountability and oversight mechanisms aimed at preventing the abuse of state police by political actors.

He added that the police’s support for the bill underscored its national importance in tackling insecurity at the state and local government levels.

Bamidele argued that security should not be viewed through partisan or ethnic lenses, describing it as a collective public good that benefits all citizens.

He urged opposition parties to contribute constructive ideas that would strengthen peace and stability across the country.

This Senate state police defence comes as the bill awaits further legislative processes and potential presidential assent, amid ongoing national debate about the balance between federal authority and state-level security needs.