Buba Galadima warns Tinubu plans to weaponise state police for 2027 polls
Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, accused President Bola Tinubu and state governors of planning to create state police forces to use as political thugs in the 2027 general elections. Speaking on Arise Television’s Morning Show on June 30, 2026, he warned that state police would worsen national insecurity and could be deployed to suppress opposition, recalling how native authority police historically detained critics on flimsy charges during election periods.
He argued that politicised state police would deepen ethnic and religious divisions, particularly in states where one group dominates the force, undermining constitutional freedoms. For ordinary Nigerians, this raises the risk of voter intimidation, arbitrary arrests, and a loss of trust in security institutions, directly affecting safety and the ability to participate freely in democratic processes.
Citizens should monitor legislative moves on state police, demand transparent recruitment and oversight mechanisms, and consider how politicised security could affect their communities and voting choices. Engaging in public discourse, supporting civil‑society oversight, and voting with awareness of security‑sector politicisation are practical steps to safeguard democratic integrity.
Will you support calls for civilian oversight of state police, or accept the risk of politicised security shaping your electoral choices?