NDC warns state police could be used to rig elections, threaten democracy
NDC chieftain Buba Galadima warned on Arise TV that the proposed state police could be abused for political purposes and threaten Nigeria's democracy. Speaking on Tuesday morning, he said the idea of state police was never conceived to solve insecurity, arguing that if the Nigeria Police and military cannot secure the country, state police would not succeed either. Galadima alleged that President Bola Tinubu and state governors are pushing for state police ahead of elections to use the force against political opponents, disrupt elections and undermine democracy. He cited the historical Native Authority Police in northern Nigeria, claiming it was used to arrest opposition figures and displace many Hausa people from states such as Kano and Katsina, forcing them to flee for their lives. He warned that if state police recruitment is dominated by one ethnic or religious group, it could deepen divisions and create more suspicion than security. While supporters argue state police would improve community policing, opponents fear political abuse and rights violations. With elections approaching, the debate over state police could directly affect the fairness of polls and the safety of citizens, especially in areas where ethnic tensions are high. Will you demand transparent recruitment rules and oversight to ensure any state police serves all citizens fairly, or risk a politicized force that undermines the vote?