Kwankwaso warns state police could be misused for political gains in Northern Nigeria

Kwankwaso, the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC) Vice Presidential candidate and national leader of the Kwankwassiyya Movement, warned Thursday night that proposed state police could be exploited by governors for political protection rather than public safety. Speaking to News Central TV, he directly linked the state police proposal to what he described as 'huge leadership failure in Northern Nigeria,' asserting governors would likely use such forces for political survival.

He stated unequivocally: 'There are so many dangers associated with state police. The governors would want to use them for political protection. The government must not allow the circulation of small arms just like that.' Kwankwaso contended the state police initiative wouldn't exist without these Northern leadership failures, framing it as a symptom of governance deficits rather than a genuine security solution.

This warning emerges amid national debates on security reform ahead of the 2027 general elections. Kwankwassiyya Movement's framing suggests the state police debate centers on gubernatorial political survival strategies, particularly in the North where he perceives systemic leadership shortcomings. His specific concern about uncontrolled small arms circulation adds a tangible security risk to the political critique.

For Northern Nigerians monitoring these developments, the critical question becomes: Should efforts prioritize establishing robust civilian oversight mechanisms for any future state police structure to prevent politicization, or focus on addressing the governance and leadership failures Kwankwaso identifies as the true root cause driving demand for state police?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/07/24/state-police-kwankwaso-foresees-danger-ahead-2027-polls/