Tinubu Lacks Moral Authority, Public Trust to Establish State Policing Structure — PRP

The Peoples Redemption Party has rejected the proposed establishment of state police under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, insisting that the Federal Government lacks the credibility, public trust and moral authority required to implement such a significant constitutional and institutional reform.

The party made its position known on Thursday through a statement issued by its National Chairman, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, following the recent passage of the Constitution Alteration Bill on State Police by the Senate.

The Senate had approved the bill after securing support from more than two-thirds of lawmakers during a manual voting process, bringing Nigeria closer to the creation of state-controlled police services operating alongside the federal police system.

However, the PRP argued that while the country urgently requires reforms to strengthen its security architecture, the current administration is not in a position to lead such a transformation.

According to Baba-Ahmed, public confidence in government institutions has declined significantly, making the proposed state police initiative difficult to trust.

“The Peoples Redemption Party is deeply concerned about plans by President Tinubu’s administration to procure state police through constitutional amendment at a time when its credibility and competence are at an unprecedented low level in our democratic history,” he stated.

The party acknowledged that Nigeria’s security challenges require a comprehensive review of existing institutions responsible for maintaining law and order. It noted that reforms should be aimed at improving national security and rebuilding citizens’ confidence in leadership and public institutions.

Despite this, the PRP maintained that the Tinubu administration lacks the moral standing needed to undertake such a far-reaching restructuring of the country’s policing framework.

Baba-Ahmed criticised the government’s handling of security matters, arguing that its performance does not inspire confidence in its ability to successfully manage a decentralised policing system.

“The APC administration has failed to manage our security structure and institutions. Its plan to engineer the emergence of state police is suspicious and should be rejected,” he said.

The PRP also urged Nigerians to view the next general election as a critical democratic milestone before major constitutional reforms are pursued.

According to the party, only a government that emerges through a process widely accepted as credible and transparent should be entrusted with reforms of such national importance.

The opposition party called on the Federal Government to prioritise improving security and protecting lives and property across the country rather than pursuing constitutional amendments it believes could generate further controversy and distrust.