State governors are intensifying efforts to secure the speedy passage of the proposed state police bill, urging the National Assembly, the 36 State Houses of Assembly and the Presidency to complete the legislative process before campaigns for the 2027 general elections begin.
The renewed push follows the House of Representatives’ approval of the Constitution Alteration Bill, which seeks to establish state police services across Nigeria. The bill was passed after weeks of lobbying by governors, who are now calling for its swift harmonisation with the Senate’s version.
Sources familiar with the process said the governors want Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to immediately constitute a harmonisation committee to reconcile differences between both chambers before the National Assembly’s annual recess.
According to the sources, governors are concerned that the legislative break and the approach of the election season could delay the bill if the process is not concluded quickly.
Once harmonised, the legislation will return to both chambers for final approval before being transmitted to the 36 State Houses of Assembly for concurrence.
Governors are also said to have engaged state assembly speakers, urging them to ensure the bill is approved promptly once received. They have equally opened discussions with officials in the Presidency, seeking a speedy presidential assent after the bill completes the legislative process.
However, the bill’s passage in the House of Representatives has attracted criticism over the voting procedure. The legislation was approved through a voice vote, a move some stakeholders argue did not comply with constitutional requirements for amendments.
A faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by former Minister Tanimu Turaki, has threatened legal action, alleging that lawmakers failed to consider and vote on the bill clause by clause. The group argued that such a process is required for constitutional amendments and warned that the procedure could be challenged in court.
Former lawmaker Sergius Ogun also criticised the method adopted by the House, noting that previous constitutional amendment exercises relied on electronic voting rather than voice votes. While acknowledging that the outcome of any legal challenge cannot be predicted, he said judicial scrutiny could help clarify the constitutional process.
The governors’ urgency is also linked to security planning ahead of the next general elections. Several states already operate local security outfits, including vigilante groups and community watch organisations, which they hope to transform into formal state police agencies once the constitutional amendment is enacted.
Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun recently disclosed that governors had agreed to ensure their respective state assemblies pass the bill simultaneously after it is transmitted. Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele also expressed confidence that the states would demonstrate their support through a swift concurrence process.
Many state assembly speakers have already pledged to support the legislation, describing it as a significant step in Nigeria’s constitutional reform efforts.
Meanwhile, civil society organisations have called for broader public consultation before the bill progresses further. The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre has urged the National Assembly to organise public hearings across the country’s six geopolitical zones, noting that important issues, including the proposed funding structure for state police, have yet to be fully explained to Nigerians.
Although the bill secured 311 votes in the House of Representatives well above the constitutional threshold required for amendments minority lawmakers staged a walkout, insisting that the legislative process failed to meet constitutional standards.
With governors pushing for accelerated action and opponents preparing possible court challenges, the fate of the state police bill will likely be decided in the coming weeks as lawmakers race against time ahead of the 2027 election season.